Direct flight to be lauched from Paris to Astana

A direct flight from Astana to Paris will be launched in the nearest time, RIA Novosti reports citing the Presidents of Kazakhstan and France as saying at the meeting on September 19 in Paris. “The presidents expressed a wish that a direct flight between Astana and Paris is launched in the nearest time,” the final bilateral declaration of the meeting states. The document also states that Nikolas Sarkozy accepted Nursultan Nazarbayev’s invitation to visit Kazakhstan again. “The visit’s dates will be discussed by diplomatic channels,” the declaration states. Leaders of the two countries agreed to hold a Year of France in Kazakhstan in 2013 and a Year of Kazakhstan in France in 2014. Besides, Nikolas Sarkozy talked about a sooner completion of negotiations on the Agreement to expand partnership and cooperation between Kazakhstan and the European Union. France also welcomed expansion of Kazakhstan’s cooperation with the European Council and Kazakhstan’s strive for close interaction with the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). Nursultan Nazarbayev arrived in Paris on September 19. The President will visit New York on September 20-22.