Astana, Kazakhstan, Dec.26
By Daniyar Mukhtarov - Trend:
Kazakhstan is interested in the speedy settlement of Iranian nuclear issue, the country's Foreign Minister Erlan Idrissov said at a briefing in Astana on Dec.26.
"The settlement of Iranian nuclear issue in the shortest possible time is important for Kazakhstan, since this will have a positive impact on our region, first of all in terms of economic opportunities," said Idrissov.
The foreign minister added that Kazakhstan is interested in the progressive development of the relations with Iran. He also reminded that the Iranian leader paid a visit to Astana in 2014.
Moreover, Kazakh president met with his Iranian counterpart during the summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) in Shanghai.
The minister expressed satisfaction with the development of the bilateral relations between the two countries. "We hope that the positive trend will continue in the future as well."
Idrissov added that the shortest way to the world markets for Kazakhstan in the southerly direction passes though Iran. "This country is our important economic partner."
The minister said that Kazakhstan wants to contribute to the successfulness of the negotiations on Iran's nuclear program.
"We were somewhat disappointed that the group of negotiators failed to complete the negotiations held in November and hope that these talks will be more successful in H1 of 2015," said Idrissov.
Iran and P5+1 (the five permanent members of the UN Security Council comprising of China, France, Russia, Britain, the US Plus Germany) sealed an interim deal in Geneva on November 24, 2013 to pave the way for the full resolution of the West's decade-old dispute with Iran over the country's nuclear energy program.
The Geneva deal took effect on January 20 and expired on July 20.
However, the two sides agreed to extend their talks for four months till Nov. 24 to reach a permanent deal on Iran's disputed nuclear program.
During a meeting held on November 24, 2014, the sides agreed to extend the talks for further seven months.
Idrissov reminded that Kazakhstan was a platform for two rounds of negotiations on Iran's nuclear program, and these rounds gave a noticeable impetus to the positive development of the entire negotiation process.
Edited by SI