Kazakhstan seeks for strengthening coop with Muslim world, ArRiyadh

ASTANA. February 24. KAZINFORM. President of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev delivered his annual State-of-the Nation Address on January 28 outlining the major development priorities for 2011, an article published Feb.1 in ArRiyadh (Saudi Arabia) edition reads.

According to Nursultan Nazarbayev, this year Kazakhstan will assume the presidency over the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC). Kazakhstan's presidency should strengthen the Asian vector of the country's foreign policy and cooperation with the Muslim world. As part of its mission, Kazakhstan has intentions to forward a set of initiatives to promote the East-West dialogue.

Nursualtan Nazarbayev announced his intention to convene this year a special donor conference on Afghanistan, develop and adopt the inter-state programme of assistance to neighboring Kyrgyzstan.

Another highlight is cooperation with European states. "We offer our European partners to jointly develop and accept, in a multilateral format, a Kazakhstan-EU Energy Charter up to the year 2020," Nazarbayev said. "This would ensure the guarantee of stability of energy supplies to the European markets, and the development of pipeline systems."

The Kazakh President also reaffirmed his commitment to pursue a Stability Pact for the Caspian Region, which is expected to pave the foundation for stability in Central Asia and Caucasus.

Besides, Kazakhstan takes the lead in the global nuclear security area. Kazakhstan offers reaching a Universal Declaration of a Nuclear-Weapons Free World.