Nicolas Sarkozy to visit Kazakhstan in the beginning of 2009

Astana. February 8. Kazakhstan Today - The President of France Nicolas Sarkozy will visit Kazakhstan in the beginning of 2009. The Prime Minister of France Francois Fillon informed today at the press conference in Astana.

"We hope that arrival of the President of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev to France and arrival of Nicolas Sarkozy to Kazakhstan in the beginning of the next year will lead to signing the agreement on strategic partnership between two countries," F. Fillon said at the briefing, following the results of the negotiations with the Prime Minister of Kazakhstan Karim Masimov.

"We welcome the fact that Kazakhstan will be OSCE chairman in 2010. Kazakhstan will become an example in the region in matters of formation of a lawful state. France is ready to develop cooperation with Kazakhstan," French leader emphasized.

He reminded that France will become the chairman in the European Union in the second half of 2008. "European Union wishes to develop dialogue in Central Asia, in particular, with Kazakhstan. We should take advantage of our presidency in the European Union to continue establishment of close relationship started last year. We during the presidency are going to pay special attention to regional safety and energy issues," F. Fillon added.

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