NUR-SULTAN -- Kazakh Foreign Minister Beibut Atamkulov Wednesday (September 4) conferred with United Nations (UN) official Natalia Gherman in Nur-Sultan, the Foreign Ministry said in a statement that day.
Gherman is special representative of the UN secretary-general for Central Asia and heads the UN Regional Centre for Preventive Diplomacy for Central Asia.
The two discussed peace and security in Central Asia, including the fight against terrorism, as well as water and energy co-operation.
Gherman praised Kazakhstan's efforts in fighting terrorism, in particular Operation "Jusan" (Bitter Wormwood), which brought home the family members of militants who travelled to Syria to fight alongside the "Islamic State" (IS).
Gherman also highlighted the Regional Centre's new initiatives aimed at engaging women and youth in conflict prevention and resolution.
