Royal Norwegian Embassy, Astana | |
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Location | Astana |
Address | Astana Tower Business Center, 12 Samal Microdistrict |
Ambassador | Ole Johan Bjørnøy |
Jurisdiction | Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan |
The Embassy of the Kingdom of Norway in Astana is the chief diplomatic mission of Norway to Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan. It is co-located with the Finnish and Swedish embassies on the 17th floor of Astana Tower Business Center in the Samal Microdistrict of Astana. [1]
The Embassy was officially opened by HRH Crown Prince of Norway Haakon Magnus on 5 February 2010. [1] Dag Malmer Halvorsen was appointed the first Norwegian ambassador to Kazakhstan, preceded by Ole Johan Bjørnøy in August 2012.[ citation needed ]
Norway has an Honorary Consulate General in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan. [2] The Honorary Consulate reports to the Embassy.
Foreign relations of Kazakhstan are primarily based on economic and political security consideration. The Nazarbayev administration has tried to balance relations with Russia and the United States by sending petroleum and natural gas to its northern neighbor at artificially low prices while assisting the U.S. in the War on Terror. Kazakhstan is a member of the United Nations, Collective Security Treaty Organization, Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe, North Atlantic Cooperation Council, Commonwealth of Independent States, the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, and NATO's Partnership for Peace program. Kazakhstan established a customs union with Russia and Belarus which eventually became the Eurasian Economic Union. President Nazarbayev has prioritized economic diplomacy into Kazakhstan's foreign policy.
Kyrgyzstan has close relations with other members of the Commonwealth of Independent States, particularly Kazakhstan and Russia, given the historical legacy of the Soviet Union. It also has close relations with Turkey as well, given their shared heritage as Turkic languages.
The Embassy of Canada to Russia in Moscow is the diplomatic mission of Canada to Russia. Included in its mandate are the countries of Armenia and Uzbekistan. It also provides visa services to residents of Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan.