EU, Kazakhstan to sign new agreement after Kazakhstan joins WTO
BRUSSELS. May 26. KAZINFORM The second round of negotiations on the new Agreement on expanded partnership and cooperation between Kazakhstan and the European Union came to an end in Brussels. Both parties noted they made a significant advance in negotiations.
The Kazakhstani delegation was headed by Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister Alexey Volkov, the EU delegation was led by Gunnar Wiegand, head of the European Commission's Unit for Relations with
Russia and Central Asia.
According to A. Volkov, the document numbers more than 160 pages and covers specific areas of bilateral cooperation.
"I would like to point out that we've made significant strides in negotiations. It was the first pilot round of talks. But the sides expressed a wish and readiness to make a compromise, concessions and find common grounds. I hope we will be ready to sign the new agreement after Kazakhstan enters the WTO," A. Volkov said.
He also stressed that Kazakhstani side put forward a number of specific suggestions in economic and bank cooperation, implementation of some agreements and expressed readiness to join the European conventions.
In his turn, Gunnar Wiegand, said the level of the second round of talks was high.
"We believe we will get our political, legal, commercial and investment relations and contacts up to the brand new level. Our citizens and business circles will benefit from it," EU representative added.
In addition, Mr. Wiegand expressed hope for strengthening of commercial and investment relations between Kazakhstan and the EU, especially in the light of upcoming accession of Kazakhstan to the WTO.
Within the negotiations the sides discussed all provisions of the future agreement embracing the problems of political, commercial and economic, legal, financial and humanitarian cooperation.
It is also worth mentioning that during President Nazarbayev's visit to Brussels in October 2010 Jose Manuel Barroso spoke in favor of expanding cooperation between Kazakhstan and the EU. According to the President of the European Commission, the EU was keen to develop relations with Kazakhstan in future.