Carnegie Fund expert says Central Asian integration undesirable

Because of obvious differences in the economic and political development between the Central Asian countries, a regional integration would only cause harm. Martha Alcott, expert from the Carnegie Fund, has expressed this opinion today, June 21, at the annual Almaty conference on security and regional co-operation, KZ-today reports.

M. Alcott has observed that obvious economic successes, social and political achievements of Kazakhstan cannot allow such integration to be successful. "Kazakhstan has already walked a certain way and reached political maturity. A very big potential for fundamental reforms has been accumulated here," - she believes. In the other Central Asian countries there is stagnation and unstable political situation. In relation with this any multilateral unification of these states would only raise "the level of threats and impede the economic and political growth."

Besides, M. Alcott believes that Central Asia is not an isolated region anymore and it problems should be considered in a wider context. The regional integration, in her view, should be built on the basis of bilateral relations.