Kazakhstan to supply Kyrgyzstan with spare armored vehicles and mortar-guns

Nursultan Nazarbayev, President of Kazakhstan, signed the law “On ratification of the agreement between the governments of Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan on provision of gratis weapons and military equipment,” Tengrinews.kz reports, citing the press-office of the head of the state. Interfax-Kazakhstan reports that the agreement was signed on March 17, 2011 in Astana in order to promote security in Central Asian region and render assistance to the armed forces of Kyrgyzstan. The recipient country is obliged not to pass Kazakhstan weapons and military equipment or the right of using it to any third parties. Earlier Tengrinews.kz reported that Majilis (Lower House of the Parliament in Kazakhstan) ratified the Agreement on provision of gratis weapons and military equipment to Kyrgyzstan on September 28, 2011. Talgat Zhanzhumenov, Vice-minster of Defense said that the weapon to Kyrgyzstan was worth about three million dollars. He also said that Kazakhstan would supply Kyrgyzstan with armored fighting vehicles, cars and mortar-guns to equip Kyrgyz armed forces. The vice-minister said that this assistance would release Kazakhstan from additional maintenance expenses and that there is an extra amount of this military equipment in Kazakh armed forces.