““I believe that we very thoroughly, as if in unison, set out our approaches to the development of cooperation aimed at the future” – Tokaev”, — write: www.radiosvoboda.org
Tokayev said he had “carefully read” Putin’s comment published in the state-run Kazakhstan Pravda newspaper on the eve of the visit, and said he had published his own commentary on the state of relations between Moscow and Astana in the Russian media.
“I believe that we very thoroughly, as if in unison, set out our approaches to the development of cooperation aimed at the future,” Tokayev said.
In his article, he emphasized that Kazakhstan “remains a reliable strategic partner and ally of Russia in this very difficult time,” Tokayev’s press service quotes.
Putin thanked Tokayev “for his careful attitude towards the Russian language”, referring to the ratification by the lower house of the parliament of the agreement on the creation of the International Organization of the Russian Language. Putin noted that the activity of the mentioned organization will contribute to the promotion of the Russian language “as a means of interstate and interethnic communication.”
Kazakh has been the state language since independence in 1991. In the last census in 2009, only 62% of the population said they were fluent in both written and spoken Kazakh. Russian is recognized as an official language in Kazakhstan.
Kremlin aide on foreign policy Yuriy Ushakov told reporters on November 26 that Putin and Tokayev will sign a protocol on extending the agreement on the supply of oil to Kazakhstan. He did not provide details.
The two leaders said after the meeting that they discussed plans to increase the transit of Russian natural gas through Kazakhstan to Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan, part of Moscow’s strategy to withdraw from European energy markets. They also said that they talked about joint projects in hydropower, tire production, fertilizers and other areas.
Kazakhstan has tried to distance itself from Moscow’s war in Ukraine, but remains heavily dependent on Russia for oil exports to Western markets and imports of food, electricity and other products.
In January 2022, Russian troops and units of other countries of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO, a military alliance led by Russia) were briefly brought into Kazakhstan at Tokayev’s request amid mass unrest in that country. They did not take part in the skirmishes and soon left the country, the president of Kazakhstan then thanked his partners for their help. It was not reported whether Kazakhstan’s possible assistance to the Russian authorities was discussed during Tokayev’s conversation with Putin on June 24.