OREANDA-NEWS. September 10, 2014. The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan Erlan Idrissov has met with the heads of diplomatic missions of European countries accredited in Kazakhstan, where a wide range of issues, including negotiations on a new agreement to expand the partnership of Kazakhstan and the EU were considered. Minister for Economic Integration Zhanar Aytzhanova also attended the briefing for ambassadors.

The meeting took place on the eve of the final, the 8th round of negotiations on a new agreement between the Republic of Kazakhstan and the European Union. As Mr. Idrisov noted, negotiation teams of the parties approached him with good results and continue to work hard to finalize the draft agreement during upcoming negotiations.

"The new agreement will be comprehensive, and reflect the existing mature and equal partnership between Kazakhstan and the EU, based not only on common interests, but also on shared values, mutual understanding, respect and benefit. It should provide a solid basis for Kazakhstan's cooperation with the EU countries to a higher level," the head of the Foreign Ministry of Kazakhstan said and added that initialing of the agreement is scheduled for this autumn.

E. Idrissov further noted that a key element of the new agreement is a modernized trade and investment section, taking into account the perspective of the accession of Kazakhstan to the World Trade Organization (WTO), as well as development of the Customs Union and the Common Economic Space and the Eurasian Economic Union.

Kazakhstan and the EU also agreed that in addition to the new agreement, which will be the legal basis, the "road maps" and sectoral agreements on deepening cooperation in specific areas may be developed and adopted in the future. As stressed by Mr. Idrisov, in the light of the tasks set by the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan N.A. Nazarbayev in the Strategy "Kazakhstan 2050", Astana attaches particular importance to development of such areas of cooperation, innovation, science, education and competitiveness. In particular, according to the head of the Foreign Ministry, Kazakhstan is interested in a separate agreement with the EU on science, technology and innovation.

Noting that the European Union is the largest trading partner of Kazakhstan, Z. Aitzhanova informed about the details of negotiation process, saying that the agreement have already been achieved on many issues. She also added that the agreement provides for trade and investment section’s entry into force after Kazakhstan’s accession to the WTO.

In turn, the head of the European Union to the Republic of Kazakhstan, Ambassador Aurelia Bouchez also noted the importance of an early conclusion of negotiations on the agreement, including a section on trade and investment.

The sides also discussed issues of visa liberalization with the European Union, promotion of Kazakhstan's candidacy for non-permanent member of the UN Security Council for 2017-2018, and cooperation between Kazakhstan and the OSCE mission in Astana and other issues.

It was noted that intensification of mutual trips of citizens, the growth of political, economic, business, cultural and business contacts between Astana and the capitals of European countries, cooperation in the area of simplification of visa regime is becoming increasingly important. At the same time, the issue of visa regime simplification has been on the agenda of regular meetings of Kazakhstan - EU bilateral structures since 2008. Since 2011, the visa issues have also been discussed in the framework of negotiations on a new agreement to expand the partnership and cooperation between Kazakhstan and the EU. As stressed by Mr. Idrisov, Astana consistently works to facilitate the visa regime for the citizens of Kazakhstan at a global level, and visa facilitation in the Schengen zone and in Europe is a top priority as a whole. Having noted that the free movement of people is the key to further development of friendly relations, the Foreign Minister of the Republic of Kazakhstan emphasized the need for further negotiation process on the issue of simplification of visa regime with the EU for Kazakhstani people.

Introducing Kazakhstan's candidacy for a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council for 2017-2018, E. Idrissov emphasized that the election is among the most important foreign policy objectives of the country and now Kazakhstan is actively working to promote its application.

Noting that Kazakhstan, as a country, which chaired OSCE in 2010 and organized the historic summit in Astana, E. Idrissov said that Kazakhstan attaches great importance to the cooperation in the framework of the organization in all three dimensions, with special emphasis on transnational security threats, economic and environmental measurement and regional cooperation.