Czech Republic ready to help Kazakhstan

ASTANA. January, 27. KAZINFORM /Zhiger Baitelessov/ As chairman of the European Union, the Czech Republic pays great attention to the strategy on Central Asia, in which Kazakhstan has a special place. The statement was made by Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Czech Republic to the Republic of Kazakhstan B. Kopetski at a meeting with Chairman of the Majilis of the RK Parliament Ural Mukhamedzhanov, Kazinform reports.

In response to the Speaker?s invitation the diplomat asked to take part in the preparations for the upcoming international conference ?Modern Kazakhstan? ? ?The Road to Europe?. The Ambassador assured that his country is ready to provide assistance and consultations to Kazakhstan in preparation for the OSCE chairmanship. The guest also expressed interest in developing contacts between the Parliamentary Friendship Group of the Majilis with Czech parliamentarians, the continuation of training of Kazakh students in the Czech universities. ?The success of the intergovernmental commission inspires confidence, strengthens bilateral ties?, the Ambassador said. The Chairman of the Mazhilis noted that Kazakhstan attaches great importance to cooperation with the Czech Republic. The Speaker expressed hope for strengthening cooperation in regional and international security, energy, trade and economic cooperation. U.Mukhamedzhanov stressed that within the OSCE and the international context, Kazakhstan has its own agenda of regional and global challenges and put forward a number of initiatives supported by the international community. Expressing gratitude for the Czech Republic?s backing of Kazakhstan's OSCE chairmanship; the speaker noted that Kazakhstan's initiative demonstrates the maturity of the strategic mutually beneficial and equal dialogue. This is a historic event for Kazakhstan and the Organization as a whole. Kazakhstan has made achievements in all dimensions of the OSCE, including humanitarian ?basket?. During the meeting it was noted that Kazakhstan is constantly working to implement the Madrid statements. The Kazakh Parliament discussed and adopted the draft laws on political parties, freedom of media and elections, local self-governing. Thus the foundation for the improvement of public institutions is being established. Attention was drawn to the fact that Kazakhstan has a positive experience in building interfaith harmony. We have initiated and supported the inter-faith and inter-religious dialogue. Kazakhstan intends to continue its work in this area and use it in the Third Congress of World and Traditional Religions, during the presidency of Kazakhstan in OSCE in 2010 and the Council of Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the OIC in 2011. There is a dialogue between the West and the Islamic world. A good example for it - holding of international forum ?Common world: progress through diversity? in Astana on 16-17 October 2008. The speaker expressed his gratitude to the Czech side for its support of this initiative. Trade and economic cooperation is also an important component in bilateral interaction of the two countries. One of the most effective forms of trade-economic and cultural cooperation between the two countries can be the intensification of direct relations between the regions. Particular importance is attached to cooperation in the field of education. Czech Republic has become a popular place of study for Kazakhstanis, which now has the largest Kazakh student representation in Eastern Europe (about 500). According to the Presidential Program ?Bolashak? 80 students get education in the Czech Republic.