Kazakhstan joins Board of Peace without $1 billion fee

Kazakhstan joined the Board of Peace, initiated by U.S. President Donald Trump, without paying the $1 billion fee stipulated in the charter as non-mandatory, according to the Akorda press service.

The Executive Office of the President emphasized that joining the board is a sovereign decision of the state, while the fee, under the charter, grants countries the right to extend their membership beyond the three-year term and does not affect membership status.

«Kazakhstan joined the Board of Peace without providing any financial contribution, which is fully consistent with the provisions of the charter,» Akorda said in a statement.

The Board of Peace was established under the initiative of the U.S. president. Kazakhstan is among a group of countries whose leaders signed the charter, alongside Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Armenia and Azerbaijan.