LITHUANIAN FOREIGN MINISTER STRESSES THE IMPORTANCE OF RELATIONS WITH KAZAKHSTAN
During the meeting with the Deputy Prime Minister of Kazakhstan Yerbol Orynbayev on 24 July in Brussels, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania Linas Linkevičius emphasized the role of Kazakhstan in the international arena and close bilateral relations. “Bilateral relations with Kazakhstan are intense and friendly, and we aim to advance this relationship. We organize many high level visits and have cooperated effectively within the OSCE. We will continue to cooperate in other multilateral forums,” Linkevičius said.
The Foreign Minister stressed the role of Kazakhstan in achieving stability in Afghanistan. Linkevičius led the EU delegation to a recent meeting in Kazakhstan, which mainly focused on the future of Afghanistan.
“Talks on Iran’s nuclear programme in Almaty also testify to the growing importance of Kazakhstan in the international arena. Kazakhstan also plays an important role in creating security and stability in the region. The European Union has taken this into account in its Central Asia Strategy, which is more important now than ever before,” Lithuania’s Foreign Minister said.
According to Linkevičius, Kazakhstan is traditionally the most important economic partner in the region. There are many opportunities for further cooperation in transport and logistics, innovation, and other spheres, and Kazakhstan’s accession to the WTO would allow reducing barriers to trade with the EU.
On behalf of the EU’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton, Minister Linkevičius as the representative of the EU Council Presidency chaired the EU-Kazakhstan Cooperation Council meeting in Brussels on 24 July. He stressed that Kazakhstan was becoming an increasingly important partner for the EU, not only due to trade and investment, but also as a security partner.
Linkevičius stressed that the conclusion of a new and enhanced Partnership and Co-operation Agreement between the EU and Kazakhstan would be the recognition of the importance of Kazakhstan to the European Union. The Foreign Minister reminded the participants that relations with the EU should be based upon respect of human rights, good governance, and rule of law. The Council agreed to advance cooperation aimed at progress in these areas.
