Iranian FM’s visit to Astana was both productive and memorable - E.Idrissov

"The arrival of my counterpart was accompanied by increased interest from the local and foreign media. Much of this interest was due to the timing of the visit - shortly after the talks in Lausanne, where Iran and the P5+1 group of international mediators achieved a political framework agreement on the Iranian nuclear program. For us it was also an important milestone: the resolution of Iran's nuclear program by peaceful, political and diplomatic means strengthens security in our region and the world at large, and we cannot stand on the sidelines. Kazakhstan has a strong commitment to non-proliferation. We voluntarily renounced nuclear weapons and made a practical contribution to the negotiation process. Our country provided a platform for holding two rounds of talks in February and April 2013, which significantly contributed to the creation of an atmosphere of trust between Iran and the group of international negotiators, and promoted a constructive dialogue. During the meetings with Mr. Zarif, our leaders made clear that Kazakhstan stands ready to provide any necessary assistance to reach final agreement on this issue. While it is clear that the agreements made so far are not the end of the road, we sincerely hope that the political will of the countries participating in the negotiations will remain resolute. That determination to see the process through will be key to achieving a comprehensive agreement on the Iranian nuclear program within the agreed timeframe. Because of the need to be present at the negotiations in Lausanne, my colleagues from France and Germany, Laurent Fabius and Frank-Walter Steinmeier could not attend the joint conference of French and German ambassadors in Central Asian countries, Russia, China, Afghanistan and the EU. During the conference, which I attended, there was agreement on the need to expand cooperation between Germany, France and the EU with Central Asia. We agreed that greater cooperation was needed to address a number of regional issues, in security, economic ties, natural resources and environmental protection. There were discussions around the need to develop greater transportation infrastructure, and how to better integrate the region into the world economy. Our European partners welcomed the increasing involvement of Kazakhstan in addressing regional and global challenges and the growth of the country's credibility as a responsible international partner. At a meeting of the Council of Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the Collective Security Treaty Organization, held on April 2 in Dushanbe, my colleagues and I focused on security issues. We noted with great concern that the terrorist organization, calling itself "Islamic State", has been expanding its presence in the world. We know they are moving closer to our borders, as there is evidence their emissaries have been spotted in northern Afghanistan. Our absolute priorities remain combating terrorism and maintaining security in our country and in our neighbouring states. That will remain the focus of our joint efforts in the near future. On April 3, I visited Bishkek, where I chaired the regular meeting of the Council of CIS Foreign Ministers. One of the most important and unifying events is a celebration of the Day of Victory in the Second World War in Europe. This year we celebrate the 70th anniversary of the Great Victory against Nazism. Our heads of state plan to take part in the commemorations in Moscow, including in the informal meeting of the CIS, followed by the parade, on the 9th of May," noted Mr.Idrissov.