Members of the Russian and Kazakhstani parliaments discussed a wide range of matters regarding bilateral and multilateral cooperation.
Astana hosted a joint meeting of the Federation Council’s Committee on Foreign Affairs and Committee on Defence and Security, as well as the Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Security of the Senate of the Parliament of the Republic of Kazakhstan.
The MPs discussed global trends regarding the development of the international situation, cooperation between Russia and Kazakhstan inside the Eurasian Economic Union, as well as the state and prospects of bilateral cooperation in the sphere of military education.
Opening the meeting, Dariga Nazarbayeva, Chairperson of the Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Security of the Senate of the Parliament of the Republic of Kazakhstan, noted that regular contacts between MPs confirmed the strategic nature of bilateral cooperation between Kazakhstan and Russia. “Despite the turbulent international situation, our countries have established effective and close cooperation regarding key matters on the international agenda,” Dariga Nazarbayeva noted.
During the meeting, the sides exchanged views on Kazakhstan’s role in the Syrian peace settlement and the Astana process. According to Chairman of the Federation Council Committee on Foreign Affairs Konstantin Kosachev, Astana lent a helping hand at the most complicated moment when it was necessary to merge the different positions related to many external factors. “Astana was and remains a venue for drafting detailed, constructive and sustained solutions as regards the Syrian peace settlement and I am confident that it will retain this status in the future,” the Senator noted.
Dariga Nazarbayeva also underscored the importance of Russian-Kazakhstani cooperation on Syria. “Indeed, we are proud to see the substantial contribution made by the Astana process to resolving the situation in Syria. We also praise Russia’s role in the Syrian settlement,” Dariga Nazarbayeva said.
She added that Kazakhstan appreciated Russia’s contribution to addressing the situation in Afghanistan in the context of the threat of the infiltration of terrorists from that country into Central Asia.
Chairman of the Federation Council Committee on Defence and Security Viktor Bondarev discussed the Russian Armed Forces’ experience and results in fighting international terrorism in Syria.
Minister of the National Economy of the Republic of Kazakhstan Ruslan Dalenov discussed Kazakhstani-Russian cooperation within the framework of the Eurasian Economic Union, including efforts to remove barriers, exemptions and restrictions.
While discussing this matter, Konstantin Kosachev noted the need for more active efforts to inform the citizens of the Eurasian Economic Union’s member-states about the advantages of this integration association and its achievements.
Republic of Kazakhstan Defence Minister Nurlan Yermekbayev reported on the state and prospects of expanded bilateral cooperation in the area of military education. For example, he told those present that about 300 Kazakhstani service personnel now study at 28 higher education institutions of the Russian Defence Ministry. In his opinion, the Russian side is also interested in sending its service personnel to First President of the Republic of Kazakhstan National Defence University, and it is ready to do this.
During the discussion, both sides touched upon promising aspects of cybersecurity cooperation, as well as various matters in the sphere of bilateral military-technical cooperation.
While staying in Astana, Federation Council members visited First President of the Republic of Kazakhstan National Defence University where Viktor Bondarev and Konstantin Kosachev met with the university’s top managers and gave lectures to its students.