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Regional challenges in Central Asia debated in NATO seminar in Astana

Politics Materials 26 June 2009 13:57 (UTC +04:00)

Kazakhstan, Astana, June 26 / Trend , K. Konirova/ NATO Parliamentary Assembly's 71st seminar on Regional Challenges in Central Asia: Environmental Protection, Economic Development, Building Civil Society opened in Astana on June 26.

"Seminar of the NATO PA is held in Central Asia for the first time, which is an indication of a fruitful collaboration and trustful political dialogue between Kazakhstan and NATO, chairman of the Senate of the Kazakh parliament Kasymzhomart Tokayev said during a welcoming speech.

The speaker of the Senate said there is a need to intensify international efforts to bring security and stability to Central Asia for a long term.

"For us, it is obvious that the closer and more dynamic will continue the cooperation between countries of the region, the weightier will be their international position," he said.

Kazakhstan is making its contribution to the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan, Tokayev said.

"Kazakhstan supports active involvement of Afghanistan in the integration processes in the region and strengthening mutual economic and humanitarian cooperation. A special role in this regard rests on the work of the Kazakhstan -Afghanistan intergovernmental commission," he said. "We also intend to stimulate the activities of public and private business in Afghanistan."

Kazakhstan has recently adopted a large-scale program to combat drug trafficking, he said.

"This decision should provide substantial support for the establishment of the Central Asian Regional Information Coordination Center (CARICC) which functions under the UN auspices," Tokayev said.

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