EU Kazakh Ambassador, Belgian Secretary General of Foreign Affairs Ministry met
SSELS. September 14. KAZINFORM /Yerzhan Ospanov/ Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Kazakhstan to Brussels, Head of Kazakhstan Mission to the EU and NATO Yerik Utembayev met with Secretary-General of the Belgian Ministry of Foreign Affairs Dirk Achten and Director for Internal Cooperation Department Villi de Bouke; the Kazakh Embassy in Brussels said.
The parties discussed the status and prospects of the Kazakh-Belgian political and trade-economic relations as well as mutual cooperation between the countries within the Kazakhstan's cooperation with the EU. "Kazakhstan considers Belgium firstly as one of the key partners in EU, OSCE, UN and other international and regional institutions", - Y. Utembayev underlined.
D. Achten signified his satisfaction by the fact that Kazakhstan's chairmanship in OSCE coincides with the time of the Belgian EU Presidency in 2010. The Secretary General of the Belgian Ministry of Foreign Affairs welcomed proposal of the Kazakhstani side for closer cooperation of the both chairmanships.
In this connection the Kazakh Ambassador informed the interlocutors on the upcoming meeting within the EU "Trio" - Central Asian states scheduled on September, 15. The meeting has a great importance for 'time check' on the threshold of the Kazakhstan's chairmanship in OSCE.
The parties supported further development of political contacts. Taking into account the dynamics of development of the partner relations Y. Utembayev proposed to consider possibility for preparation of the Agreement on Strategic Partnership between Kazakhstan and Belgium. "As for now we have certain directions for long-term cooperation in different spheres which are of mutual interest", - he said pointing out the projects in nuclear energy, nanotechnology, outer space exploration, naval transport, oil chemistry answering objectives of the Industrial and Innovation Development Strategy of Kazakhstan and Path to Europe State Program.
With a view of intensification of the economic cooperation between Kazakhstan and Brussels as well as strengthening of the investment cooperation the Ambassador expressed hope for more active participation of Belgian companies in the process that will promote implementation of Path to Europe State Program.
The Belgian diplomats were informed of the new initiatives of President Nursultan Nazarbayev aimed at supporting of the global security and nuclear disarmament: the UN declaring August 29 a Day of Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons and development of new universal Agreement on Global Horizontal and Vertical Non-Proliferation.
D. Achten welcomed the initiatives and emphasized the historical value and symbolism of the Kazakhstan's voluntary renunciation of nuclear armory and closing of Semipalatinsk nuclear test base.
In the course of discussion of the bilateral political cooperation Y. Utembayev repeated proposal of the Kazakhstani part to hold consultation seminar between the Kazakh and Belgian foreign policy institutions for discussion of cooperation mechanism in the time of OSCE and EC chairmanships.
At the end of the meeting the parties agreed to support constant and close contacts aimed at addressing of all the issues of the Kazakh-Belgian cooperation.