Kazakhstan was first Central Asian state to join ISAF in Afghanistan - President

LISBON. November 20. KAZINFORM /Dimash Syzdykov/ Kazakhstan was the first Central Asian state to join the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan, President Nursultan Nazarbayev said during the NATO Summit in Lisbon.

"Since the beginning of its chairmanship in the OSCE Kazakhstan proclaimed the theme of Afghanistan as one of its priorities. It was a natural step, since Kazakhstan has for a long time supported the efforts of the international coalition, having become the first Central Asian state to join the International Security Assistance Force", N. Nazarbayev said.

"The concept of the European security goes far beyond the continental framework, covering the vast space of Eurasia", the President emphasized. "In this context Kazakhstan pays special attention to Afghanistan, which is a partner of the Organization and borders three OSCE participating states", he added.

As reported earlier, during the visit to Brussels in October 2010 at the NATO Headquarters N. Nazarbayev announced that Kazakhstan had decided to send several soldiers to the headquarters of the international forces in Afghanistan.