Russia, Kazakhstan to forge military coop, fight against terrori

Moscow, May 23 (UNI) Russia and Kazakhstan have agreed to forge military-technical cooperation and reaffirmed their determination to increase bilateral interaction in fighting terrorism.

The two nations intend to broaden relations and strengthen military-technical cooperation considering them an important component of mutual strategic partnership to ensure regional and global security, a joint statement issued yesterday in Kazakhistan said after the talks between the new Russian President Dmitry Medvedev and his Kazakh counterpart Nursultan Nazarbayev.

''Russia and Kazakhstan will maintain close cooperation aimed at securing a solid joint defence within the common military strategic space under the Collective Security Treaty signed on May 15, 1992,'' it said.

In the struggle against terrorism, both the leaders agreed to ''expand the cooperation constantly and reaffirmed the determination to combat any forms of discrimination and the activities of some organisations and individuals aimed at fanning up ethnic strife in the two countries.'' They also affirmed their intentions to continue regular political contacts, cooperate in the development of the Commonwealth of Independent States, the Eurasian Economic Cooperation Organisation and the Collective Security Treaty Organisation.

Mr Medvedev is on his maiden foreign trip to Kazakhstan and China after assuming presidency earlier this month.

During the talks, the Russian President also agreed to a proposal by the Kazakh President to work out a long-term strategy of the bilateral economic cooperation.

''There are a number of tasks that we are capable of fulfilling jointly. Such kind of a clear-cut long-term agreement will be useful,'' Itar-Tass news agency quoted Mr Medvedev as saying.

There was a need to forward to approve anew some medium-term plans as well as to advance to full-fledged long-term cooperation, he added.

''Despite difficulties existing in world finances, we have all the grounds to plan the development of our cooperation for years ahead.'' ''We have proposed to Russia the drafting of a long-term agreement on cooperation and integration between our countries,'' Mr Nazarbayev said.

He noted the strategic importance of bilateral energy cooperation, and proposed establishing a joint oil refining venture.

Mr Medvedev highlighted projects to establish a Russian-Kazakh company in peaceful nuclear energy and build a nuclear power plant in Kazakhstan with Russia's participation.

''Our plans include a transition to deeper nuclear energy integration,'' he said.

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