NATO Secretary General visits Kazakhstan
The NATO Secretary General, Jaap de Hoop Scheffer met in Astana with President Nursultan Nazarbayev and discussed the Alliance's growing cooperation with Kazakhstan in the context of Partnership for Peace.
He thanked President Nazarbayev for his country's support to NATO's engagement in Afghanistan and for organizing the first ever EAPC Security Forum in Central Asia starting today. "Today, Kazakhstan is NATO's most active Partner in the Central Asian region. We have also achieved solid progress in defence and military co-operation, particularly in enhancing the ability of our military forces to work together.", the Secretary General said.
The Secretary General also met with Minister of Foreign Affairs Marat Tazhin, with acting Minister of Defence Mukhtar Altynbayev and with the Chairman of the Senate, Mr. Kasymzhomart Tokaev.
During the visit, the Secretary General also delivered a speech at the Academy of State.