KZ Ambassador G. Orazbakov delivered credentials to President of Cyprus

TEL AVIV – NICOSIA. January 14. KAZINFORM Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Kazakhstan to Israel and Cyprus Galym Orazbakov delivered credentials to President of Cyprus Dimitris Christofias yesterday, January 13, Kazinform refers to the Kazakh Embassy in Tel-Aviv.

At the ceremony the Ambassador informed the President of Cyprus of development of Kazakhstan on the modern stage, foreign policy initiatives of our country, the tasks set by the Head of the State Nursultan Nazarbayev on activation of cooperation of Kazakhstan with the EU countries, including Cyprus. ?It is great honor for me to be the first accredited Ambassador of Kazakhstan to the Republic of Cyprus and I will exert every effort for strengthening and expanding bilateral relations?, G. Orazbakov said. The Kazakh Ambassador focused on necessity of deepening mutual political dialogue, organization of visits between Kazakhstan and Cyprus. G. Orazbakov briefed about the goals of ?Road to Europe? state program, oncoming chairmanship of Kazakhstan in the OSCE in 2010 and Kazakhstan-European Union strategic partnership. Activation and expansion of trade and economic cooperation was also discussed. Kazakhstan is interested in exchange of experience in such fields as tourism, agriculture, transport, construction, banking system and others, the Ambassador said. The President of Cyprus agreed with the Ambassador?s proposition to work out the issue of direct air flight between our countries that would positively influence further development of partnership. The parties emphasized importance of increasing volume of commodity turnover and investments between the two states. Within the visit to the Republic of Cyprus, Mr. Orazbakov held bilateral meetings with the head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, permanent secretary of the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Tourism E. presidents of Commerce and Industry Chamber and Federation of Employers and Industrialists and several businessmen. The President of the Commerce and Industry Chamber welcomed Kazakh Embassy?s initiative to hold I Kazakhstan-Cyprus business-forum in Nicosia in May of the current year. According to the National Bank and customs statistics, the goods turnover between Kazakhstan and Cyprus made USD 1.8 mln in January-October 2008, USD 5.5 mln ? in 2007, USD 27.6 mln ? in 2006. By June 31, 2008 the volume of Cyprus investments to Kazakhstan economy reached USD 1 071.2 mln. Kazakhstan?s investments to this country made USD 2 735.3 mln.