Kazakh Ambassador to Saudi Arabia surveyed construction of mosque in Semey
The visit aimed at familiarization with the region's life and construction of one of the largest mosques in Central Asia for 2 000 believers, the Ambassador explained at a meeting with local community and journalists of regional and national mass media.
"We, ambassadors and employees of diplomatic missions, pursue the policy of our President Nursultan Nazarbayev in every corner of the world. Akim of Semey Meiramkhat Ainabekov applied us with a request to help in search for sponsors for building a new Central mosque. We extended the request to the Government of Saudi Arabia. I arrived here to study the situation and determine what namely is needed", Kairat Lama Sharif said.
According to the Ambassador, if the project is approved by the Saudi authorities, it will be included into the list of the financed projects.
Construction of the new mosque in Semey was started in May, 2008. The cost of the project which was designed in Turkey is USD 8 mln.
The new temple with four minarets of 41 m height is notable for that 40% of the building will be made of glass. The three-floor mosque will consist of men's and women's chapels, rooms for washing, rooms for imams, a library and a reading room.