Kazakhstan and Russia’s Foreign Ministers concert plan for cooperation in 2014

Kazakhstan’s Foreign Minister Yerlan Idrissov and his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov have concerted a plan of cooperation for 2014, RIA Novosti reports.

The trade turnover between Russia and Kazakhstan has reached an unprecedented level of $26.5 billion, almost 5% up against 2013, Russia’s Foreign Minister said following the talks. Mr. Idrissov emphasized that “trade and economic and investments interaction is the core of the relations between the two nations”.

“Russia is a Kazakhstan’s ally and a major trade and economic partner; the trade turnover figure is impressive, but the potential is not fully unleashed. There are some realms in which more specific steps are required”, he elaborated.

Sergei Lavrov assured that the migration regime would be more favorable with the Eurasian Economic Union launched by 2015. “The Eurasian Union implies four freedoms: free movement of capital, workforce, services and goods”, he said. The Eurasian Union of Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan is to be launched by 2015; the combined GDP of the three states already united in the Customs Union makes up 85% of the CIS’s GDP.

Among other things the two sides dwelt on the situation in Ukraine. “We share the opinion that it is important to stop extremists in Ukraine, facilitate soonest possible normalization of the situation, support constitutional reforms, taking into account interests of all the country’s regions”, Sergei Lavrov said.

He also said Russia and Kazakhstan would shortly ratify the agreement on good neighborliness and cooperation. “We have submitted a package of documents to President for consideration. We expect the procedures will be completed in the soonest future”, according to him.