Kazakhstan’s President supports Kyrgyzstan’s intention to join the Customs Union

Kazakhstan supports Kyrgyzstan’s intention to join the Customs Union of Kazakhstan, Russia and Belarus, Newskaz.ru reports, citing President Nazarbayev as saying on his state visit to the neighboring Kyrgyzstan. Nursultan Nazarbayev is on his first state visit to Kyrgyzstan since Kazakhstan gained independence back in 1991. “We express our support to Kyrgyzstan’s intention to join the Customs Union. Astana and Bishkek have no disputes over any issues of cooperation within international and region-wide organizations”, Russia’s RIA Novosti quotes President Nazarbayev as saying during the talks with his Kyrgyz counterpart Atambayev. The Customs Union between Russia, Kazakhstan and Belarus came into existence on January 1, 2010 to boost trade and investment. According to the statement made at the press-conference in Minsk, the Customs Union was formed on the WTO principles. Kyrgyzstan is currently clearing procedures to join the alliance. President Nazarbayev’s agenda includes among other things a sitting of the Supreme Kazakh-Kyrgyz Interstate Council to expand bilateral strategic partnership. The two presidents are expected to sign a joint declaration to mark the 20th anniversary of diplomatic relations. Besides, August 23 President Nazarbayev is expected to attend the summit of turkophonic states to be held in the Kyrgyz capital city, Bishkek.