Nazarbayev will meet with Obama in Seoul

Nursultan Nazarbayev will meet with Obama in Seoul, Kazakhstan Foreign Minister said after his meeting with U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. “In the beginning of the meeting with Mrs. Clinton I have passed the response message of President Nazarbayev to President Obama with his gratitude for warm wishes at the 20th anniversary of Kazakhstan’s independence. The President also emphasized the important milestone of 20 years since establishment of diplomatic relations between our countries. We have received a confirmation from the American party that Nursultan Nazarbayav and Barack Obama will meet during the coming Nuclear Security Summit in Seoul. We consider this meeting an important landmark in the cooperation between our countries,” Kazykhanov shared the details of the negotiations. Kazakhstan Foreign Minister said that the meeting covered simplification of visa regime between Kazakhstan and the U.S. “In the nearest time we are planning to switch to 5-year multi-entry visa regime between the two countries. We have many issues related to energy partnership. We also have a huge experience in nuclear nonproliferation. We discussed stabilization of Afghanistan, regional issues and Kazakhstan's role as the chairman of the Organization for Islamic Cooperation. The visit was successful in general. I have an impression that the 20-year experience of cooperation with the U.S. is yielding its results,” he told about his impressions of the meeting. Yerzhan Kazykhanov also noted that the United States treats Kazakhstan’s position and role in the Common Economic Space and the Customs Union with understanding. “I think that this union complies with the interests of our country and, according to the President, it has to develop naturally. We are also thankful to Americans for completion of the negotiations process with Kazakhstan on its accession into the WTO,” he stated.