Nazarbayev personally congratulated Putin on inauguration

Nursultan Nazarbayev took part in the session of the Collective Security Council (CSC) of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) in Moscow, Tengrinews.kz reports citing the President’s press-service. “Let me thank the Russian party for the excellent organization of the anniversary session of the Collective Security Council and their traditional hospitality. We congratulate you, Vladimir Putin, on successful elections, recent inauguration and 67th anniversary of the Great Victory,” the press-service cited Nazarbayev’s greeting speech at the meeting of CSTO leaders in narrow format. Kazakhstan President met new Russia’s President for the first time at the summit. The meeting in narrow format resulted in adoption of the Declaration of the presidents of CSTO member-states and signing of the documents On establishment of the Honorary CSTO Sign and On awarding CSC Honorary Certificate timed to the 20th anniversary of signing of the Collective Security Treaty. “During the session we have defined the priority directions of the Organization’s development in future and exchanged our opinions on the current issues of global and regional security and called for further collective measures. In particular, we discussed countering of security threats and challenges coming from Afghanistan, the situation in the Middle East and North Africa, including Syria, and Iranian nuclear program. I would like to stress that Kazakhstan positively evaluates CSTO's activities. We will further take all efforts for development and enforcement of the Organization,” Nursultan Nazarbayev said summing up the anniversary summit. 20th anniversary of signing the Collective Security Treaty and 10th anniversary of establishment of CSTO are celebrated in May 2012. The next meeting of the Collective Security Council is scheduled for the second half of 2012 in Moscow. By Renat Tashkinbayev