ASTANA (TCA) — The standoff between Turkey and Russia is a big problem for Kazakhstan, Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev said last Saturday during his meeting with Turkish Prime Minister Ahmed Davutoglu in Astana, Novosti-Kazakhstan news agency reported.
The Kazakh president emphasized that the mounting geopolitical tension around Turkey also affects Kazakhstan. “It is now necessary to search for ways out of the current situation. The conflicts in Syria and Iraq have shown that there is no unity among Muslims. We are nearing a moment when there is a possibility of a conflict between the Sunnis and Shiites that was earlier predicted by the West. Another big problem for us is the ongoing crisis in the relationship between Turkey and Russia. Both countries are our important allies and partners,” Nazarbayev said as was quoted by his press service.
He also pointed out the importance of Turkey in Kazakhstan’s foreign policy. “This year Kazakhstan will mark the 25th anniversary of its independence. From the first days of our independence we have taken every effort to make our fraternal nations closer. Turkey is of a paramount importance for Kazakhstan and we will never refuse from our cooperation policy,” Nazarbayev said.
Davutoglu pointed out the high level of Turkish-Kazakh cooperation. “We are implementing joint projects in transport, energy and other spheres, and strengthening our trade ties. If Turkey is a door to Europe, then for Turkey Kazakhstan is a way to the Eurasian space,” the Turkish PM said.
