THE owner of Camelot Castle in Tintagel, John Mappin, believes he may have solved the problem of where President Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un should meet.
Mr Mappin said: “Astana, Kazakhstan, could be the best possible place to host the historic meeting of President Trump and President Kim.”
Mr Mappin, who who was the third British subject to meet with US President Trump and the First Lady Melania, has, over the last two years, become well-known for demonstrating considerable insight into the Trump administration.
At the same time, Mr Mappin’s wife, Irina, is a daughter of Kazakhstan and was born there in the capital of Astana.
The family today owns media and construction interests there and has diplomatic insight and relations with the Presidential government in Astana.
Mr Mappin continued: “Initial conversations with friends of ours in diplomatic circles in Astana and Kazakhstan and in the USA indicate that the idea of the meeting between President Trump and President Kim being held in Astana and hosted by President Nazarbayev of Kazakhstan would be warmly welcomed by both sides.
“Few people in the west know that President Nazarbayev is somewhat of a pioneer on the subject of denuclearisation. Early in his presidency in 1991, Mr Nazarbayev removed all nuclear weapons from his nation shortly after its founding and has been a strong advocate of nuclear disarmament ever since.”
Mr Mappin also believes that Astana has the wonderful diplomatic facilities, adding: “Nazarbayev’s presidential palace is completely appropriate for such a meeting and the capital hosts a state of the art media centre that would rival most Hollywood studios. Our family helped in the media centre’s construction.
“Astana sits at the epicentre of Eurasia and the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS). Kazakhstan has excellent relations with all countries within the CIS and the rest of the world. It is know to be peace loving and productive with extraordinary natural resources.”
As it might not be appropriate for such a meeting to be held in North Korea, diplomats have been wresting with location ideas with a neutral location is though to be favourable to both parties.
Diplomats from both sides have, before today, been trying to resolve where the meeting should occur.
Mr Mappin said: “Astana would in may ways be the perfect selection of location both due to its safety, its geographical location its summit facilities and perhaps most interestingly its president’s position on nuclear weapons and disarmament.
“Kazakhstan has been a success story economically and is great example of a country that is investing its resources in its people and infrastructure rather than on wasteful weapons programs.
“Irina and I have been fortunate to have both an excellent relationship with the leadership of Kazaksthan and we have also been keen supporters of the 45th President since he announced his run for the US Presidency. We see this as an entirely logical solution to the problem of where to hold this historic meeting and we are delighted that the initial response has been so warm. We are sure that the great wisdom of President Nazarbayev and his people will contribute to the potential positive outcome of the meeting.
“Initial soundings are extremely positive and if this simple idea helps in the direction of fewer nuclear warheads in this world then that can only be a good thing.”