Strengthening partnership with EU is a priority - Kazakh pres.

26/10 Tass 191

ASTANA, October 26 (Itar-Tass) - Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev
said strategic interaction between Kazakhstan and the European Union in
the solution of problems of contemporaneity would be strengthening in the
21st century.
Eleven years ago, Kazakhstan concluded a partnership and cooperation
agreement with the EU. Taking into account the changes that have occurred
over these years, work is now underway on a new basic agreement,
Nazarbayev told the New Europe publication.
He said he was confident that "in the 21st century, we'll strengthen
our strategic interaction in the solution of problems of contemporaneity."
The president noted that the European Union is Kazakhstan's largest
economic partner, while the development of mutually advantageous relations
is among the republic's strategic priorities.
The EU is one of the key investors in the Kazakh economy, he said. At
the same time, Kazakh business people invest considerable funds in
European countries' markets.
In April 2010, Kazakhstan signed a cooperation agreement with the
European investment bank.
This opens new opportunities to expand Kazakh-EU interaction,
according to the president.
Trade turnover between Kazakhstan and the European Union reached 20
billion euros in 2009. In the first half of 2010, it reached 14 billion
euros, which is higher than with other Central Asian states put together,
Nazarbayev went on to say.
Kazakh-EU mutual interests are not limited to business projects. "They
also include human rights, education, environmental issues, security and
fighting drug trafficking. Kazakhstan is interested in intensifying
partnership relations in all issues," the head of state said.
Nazarbayev noted that Kazakhstan was implementing the government "Path
to Europe" program, which envisions a range of varied measures aimed at
rapprochement with Europe, while using the benefit of its experience in
institutional, legal and economic reforms.
-0-myz/usn


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