Azerbaijan, Baku, Oct. 29 / Trend S. Suleymanov /
Kazakhstan has special place in Turkish foreign policy, Turkish Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador to Kazakhstan Lale Ulker told Trend.
"Today, Turkey marks the 87th anniversary of the Republic. Our country conducts a multilateral, multi-directional, pragmatic, reasonable and humane foreign policy from the earliest days until now. It is based on the principle of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk "Peace in the country, peace in the world". It focuses on establishing and strengthening peace throughout the world and especially in the region, stability and prosperity, " Lale Ulker said.
She said that Turkish and Kazakh peoples have common roots - the language, history and culture. This fact is very important in this policy.
"The relations with Kazakhstan have a special important role in Turkish foreign policy within this policy," diplomat said.
Ambassador recalled that Turkey was the first country which recognized the independence of Kazakhstan. It observes the changes achieved by Kazakhstan under the far-sighted leadership of President Nazarbayev in a short period of time.
"Turkey emphasizes the successful work of Kazakhstan, as the OSCE chairman, and the fact that the country will host the next OSCE summit in 11 years after the last meeting in Istanbul in 1999," Lale Ulker said.
She said that the relations between Turkey and Kazakhstan in all spheres, including political, economic, cultural and others develop well. The basis is a strategic partnership agreement signed during Kazakh President's visit to Turkey in 2009. It brought relations between the two countries to a new level.
"Today, the amount of Turkish investments in Kazakhstan amounts to $2 billion and total cost of projects realized by Turkish construction companies in Kazakhstan exceeded $10 billion ", ambassador said.
She noted that the Kazakh capital - Astana became a beautiful symbol of Turkish-Kazakh cooperation with the participation of Turkish construction companies.
"We are also pleased to observe the rapid growth of Kazakh investments in Turkey, Ulker added.
She said that the cooperation in the field of education and culture is another important dimension of Turkish-Kazakh relations.
"Kazakh youth, who got education in Turkish universities in Turkey and Kazakhstan, Kazakh-Turkish schools, as well as Turkish youth studying in Kazakhstan, primarily, in the Kh. Yasavi Kazakh-Turkish University provides a basis for our common future, " Turkish diplomat said.
Ambassador also noted that the relations between Kazakhstan and Turkey are rapidly developing at the regional and international levels. Both countries make great efforts and cooperate to establish peace and stability throughout Eurasia.
"A concrete result of these efforts was the Cooperation Council of Turkic-speaking countries, initiated by Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev," she said.
The Council was established during the summit in Istanbul on September 15-16, 2010. It will hold the first working meeting in Astana in 2011.
"Turkey and Kazakhstan have great potential to further develop relations in all fields. Both countries have political will to further intensify our relations. We are sure that we can ensure even better future for our relations in this direction together with our Kazakh brothers," Lale Ulker said.