Although Kazakhstan President Nursultan Nazarbaev emphasized the succession of power, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev made it clear that his visit to Astana was a personal choice.
Photo: Alexander Miridonov
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A Single Economic Space in a Pipeline
Russian President Dmitry Medvedev began his first official visit abroad yesterday. In Astana, he spent the day at the presidential palace and signed an agreement with Kazakhstan’s President Nursultan Nazarbaev on developing a joint action plan for 2009-2010. That includes the construction of the Prikaspiisky natural gas pipeline and increasing the capacity of the Central Asia – Center pipeline. Contrary to expectations, Nazarbaev did not broach the subject of a single economic space.
Nazarbaev spoke several times about the succession of power, saying that Medvedev’s decision to make his first international visit to Kazakhstan was “the result of relations formed in previous years with Vladimir Putin.” In Kazakhstan, he continued “problems never came up with Vladimir Putin that the heads of state couldn’t solve.” “The succession of power is to the benefit of both countries,” he assured his guest. “Between our states, a special, trusting character of relations has formed. It was my decision to make a visit in my new capacity to Kazakhstan. We have formed human contact. We think in one economic language,” Medvedev returned.
In addition to pipelines and the construction of oil refineries, Nazarbaev spoke of the importance of the Baikonur space center and the Angara rockets that will launch the satellites for the GLONASS navigation system into orbit. The Russian delegation was also busy with negotiations the whole day, and a number of other agreements were signed. Leonid Melamed, head of the Russian Nanotechnology Corp., and Arman Dunaev, chairman of the Kazyna Sustainable Development Fund, signed a cooperation agreement. Head of Vneshekonombank Vladimir Dmitriev and chairman of Kazakhstan Bank of Development Mulkan Sagindykov reached an agreement on a long-term credit line. Rosatom head Sergey Kirienko made an agreement on the creation of a joint company and possible Russian participation in the construction of nuclear power plants in Kazakhstan.
Today Medvedev leaves for Beijing.
www.kommersant.com
All the Article in Russian as of May 23, 2008
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