Kazakh-US strategic partnership to be discussed in Astana

ASTANA.  August 13. KAZINFORM Commander of the U.S. Central Command General David Petraeus who is on a visit to Kazakhstan is to have meetings with the Government members and representatives of the Kazakh Armed Forces for stimulating development of strong strategic partnership between the two countries and discussing prospects of cooperation in security sphere including the issues of reconstruction and rehabilitation of Afghanistan, a press release of the U.S. Embassy in Astana reads.

As the press service of the Kazakh MFA informs, D. Petraeus is expected to hold meetings with minister of Foreign Affairs Marat Tazhin and Secretary of the Security Council Kairbek Suleimenov. The U.S. Commander has already met with Minister of Defense Adilbek Dzhaksybekov.

This is the second visit of D. Petraeus to Kazakhstan. The first one took place on January 14-15, 2009. At that time General D. Petraeus had meetings with the country's top officials during which issues regarding regional security, fight with terrorism and situation in Iraq and Afghanistan were discussed.

Military cooperation is one of priority directions of the Kazakh-US bilateral interaction especially within the countries' joint activity in the structure of Coalition Forces.

Thus, since August 19, 2003 Kazakhstan has participated in Operation Iraqi Freedom operation.

290 militaries of the Kazakhstan Army joined the Coalition Forces in peacekeeping activity in Iraq.  The main objectives of the Kazakhstan contingent was search and disposal of explosive ordnances, development of field water points, cleaning water and providing medical care.

On October 21, 2008 Kazakhstan troops were withdrawn from Iraq due to completion of its mission.

Kazakhstan gave consent for transit of non-military commercial goods through its territory to Afghanistan.

Joint struggle against drug-trafficking should become one of priority directions in the Kazakh-US interaction regarding the Afghan problem.

Kazakhstan has already done huge work in conformity with the Plan of Assistance to Afghanistan.   

Cooperation in the sphere of defense and security provides for carrying out a number of activities on support of military reform in Kazakhstan. Kazakhstani officers and sergeants pass traineeships and get education in Kazakh and the US military institutions, separate units of the Kazakh Armed Forces are provided with American equipment and military vehicles within the IMET (International Military Education) and FMF (Foreign Military Financing) programs.  In February 2008 there was signed a regular five-year Plan of Military Cooperation between Kazakhstan and the USA till 2012. Kazakhstan is actively involved in the activities of Partnership for Peace program.