Russia intends to support Kazakhstan in OSCE chairmanship ? Russian Foreign Minister

MOSCOW. March 14. KAZINFORM /Arnur Rakhymbekov/ A meeting of Ministers of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan and Russian Marat Tazhin and Sergey Lavrov has finished; Kazinform reports.

Speaking to mass media, S.Lavrov emphasized that the meeting confirmed the two countries? direction to progressive development of the Russian-Kazakh relation, in accordance with agreements reached at the highest level. ?We emphasized an importance of interaction in trade-economic sphere, development of integration processes in bilateral relations and within the framework of the EurAsEC. This work is topical in the economic crisis?, S.Lavrov said. M.Tazhin, in his turn, noted that despite a difficult time in the global and regional economies, the Russian-Kazakh cooperation in the economic sphere has sustained character. ?At the end of 2008 the volume of trade between Kazakhstan and Russia formed USD 20 bln. This shows, that the economic component in our relations not only great, it also emphasizes the dynamics of development?, M.Tazhin said. The Ministers informed of a joint preparation for an international conference under the auspices of SCO on Afghanistan, which will be held in Moscow in March. Bilateral meetings are expected in Yekaterinburg within the SCO summit. During the meeting the Ministers discussed the forthcoming chairmanship of Kazakhstan in the OSCE. S.Lavrov said that Russia will support the Kazakh colleagues during the chairmanship. M.Tazhin expressed gratitude to the Russian side for support in this issue.