Necessary to put together Kazakh historical traditions and EU legislative experience ? Czech Ambassador

ASTANA. May 5. KAZINFORM. /Kurmat Samarkhan/ Cooperation with the Czech Republic, taking into account its chairmanship in the European Union, is of paramount importance for Kazakhstan. During the recent visit of Kazakh Foreign Affairs Minister Marat Tazhin to Czech Republic significant aspects of furthering bilateral and multilateral relations, contacts between foreign affairs ministries and issues of the world and regional security were discussed.
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Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Czech Republic to Kazakhstan Bedrich Kopecky shared his view on the issues of bilateral cooperation between our countries as well as Kazakhstan?s economic development in the interview with Kazinform correspondent. How do you estimate the results of the Kazakh Foreign Minister?s visit to Czech Republic? Undoubtedly, the visit of Minister Marat Tazhin to the Czech Republic yields favorable results. That visit is a great contribution to the development of the Kazakh-Czech political dialog. The foreign affairs ministries of the two countries signed an agreement on regular collaboration, consultations. Minister Tazhin?s visit is very important at the time of Czech Republic?s chairmanship in the European Union, and on the threshold of Kazakhstan?s chairmanship in the OSCE. In what areas of economy can Kazakhstan cooperate with the EU, including the Czech Republic? There is a number of areas for cooperation. All of them are pointed out in the EU?s Strategy on Central Asia and the Kazakh Government Program ?Path to Europe?. I think that all EU member states positively estimate Kazakhstan?s strategic plans on expansion of cooperation with the European Union. Both documents should be specifically used in the relations of Kazakhstan with the EU, and in general with regard to individual countries. I mean the political dialog, enhancement of democracy, improvement of legislative processes and economy. We suppose that Kazakhstan is striving for it as well. Many Kazakh politicians are right saying that it is necessary to put together Kazakhstan?s historical traditions and the best trends and experience of the European Union, particularly in the issues of legislation. We should not forget about humanitarian-cultural cooperation. Are there any projects in this sphere? The issues, concerning the cultural sphere are complex and very significant. Being the Embassy in Kazakhstan we try to attract people of our art to your country. But there exists financial problem that is common for all countries. We plan to hold Days of Czech culture in Astana on May 8-11. An exhibition of modern art, concert of folk band, and a small festival of Czech and Polish films will be held within the event. The festival is a joint event of the nearest neighbors, as long as the Czech and Polish cinematographers closely cooperate for a long time. They have their famous schools and their relations have old traditions. On the other hand, the main field of cooperation is education. Several dozens of Kazakh students are studying in Czech Republic under the President?s Program ?Bolashak?. Over 800 of Kazakh citizens study in our country at their own initiative. And I am proud of it, as long as it shows the great potential for cooperation in the future. There exists still unused potential for cooperation between our universities. How do you appraise the measures, taken by the Kazakh Government to overcome the world financial crisis? I am not an economist, but being a diplomat I review all events in the country of my accreditation. Many known economic authorities appreciate the Kazakhstan?s approach and firstly, the timeliness of the antirecessionary measures. Kazakhstan was among the first countries to consider the necessity to develop a specific program on overcoming the crisis. Besides, I think that the main thing in the President?s Address to the Nation is that it refers to the post-crisis development of the country. Speaking on the initiative of Nursultan Nazarbayev on introduction of a new world currency, I can say that there is a deep philosophy in it. But I consider the problem to be very complicated. And I am sure that it will be a subject for long discussion, as long as the issue is very serious. In what direction should Kazakhstan work during its chairmanship in the OSCE in 2010? Of course, Kazakhstan will be very important country during the period of its chairmanship, as long as it will be in the center of solution of current, topical issues. And various organizations have different opinions on many issues. It is a very difficult role, but I believe your country will cope with this challenge and become recognizable as a ?fair broker?. - Thank you for the interview!
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