Kazakh FM praises Turkey's regional role

Speaking to reporters before heading to Turkey for an official visit, Kazakh Foreign Minister Yerzhan Kazykhanov yesterday praised Turkey's growing role in its region. Speaking to the Ceyhan News Agency, Kazykhanov said this was his first official visit to Turkey in his current post, and stressed the importance of trade and culture ties in addition to diplomatic relations. The anniversary of Turkish-Kazakh relations coincides with the 20th anniversary of Kazakhstan's independence, he added. Pointing to recent developments and upheavals in the Arab world, Kazihanov praised Turkey's promotion of peaceful solutions. "Turkey knows the region quite well," he said. "Through its being conscious of being a neighbor, its policy of promoting solutions is appreciated by the international community."