Kazakhstan celebrates its national day in Ankara

ANKARA. December 1. KAZINFORM Kazakh Ambassador to Turkey Zhanseyit Tümebayev and his wife hosted a reception at the JW Marriot Hotel on Tuesday on the occasion of Kazakhstan's national day.

Among the guests present at the event were Kazakh Speaker of the Senate of Parliament Kayrat Mami, members of the Turkish Parliament -- including Parliamentary Speaker Cemil Çiçek and Energy and Natural Resources Minister Taner Yıldız -- representatives of political parties and members of diplomatic corps serving in Ankara.

According to TODAY'S ZAMAN, speaking at the event, Çiçek underlined that Turkey and Kazakhstan are sister countries and that Kazakhstan has sided with Turkey since its independence. "Kazakhstan has made important progress over the past 20 years, and I believe a better future awaits Kazakhstan. I would like to take this opportunity to extend my best wishes and regards to the people of friendly Kazakhstan," he said.

Following his speech, the ambassador presented the Certificate of Honor of the Republic of Kazakhstan to Çiçek; Abdülhamit Bilici, the general manager of the Cihan news agency and a Zaman and Today's Zaman columnist; and Zaman Editor-in-Chief Ekrem Dumanlı for their contribution to the development of bilateral relations.

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