Nursultan Nazarbayev: Tomorrow documents will be signed in our presence…
Viktor Khristenko: We are preparing four documents. Two documents concern Kurman-Gazy, and there is an agreement on joint activity between Rosneft and KazMunaiGaz, and an agreement between the government of the Republic of Kazakhstan, KazMunaiGaz and Rosneft on division of production.
President Vladimir Putin: Excellent.
Mr Khristenko: There are some finishing touches required. I think we will complete this tonight. And additionally we are preparing to sign another two documents on the electricity and energy complex, on developing issues that were set in Chelyabinsk, and on the common market of electrical energy.
Mr Nazarbayev: Vladimir Vladimirovich, I heartily congratulate you on the fact that we have successfully completed today’s meeting, and I welcome you here once more, to Astana. Your presence and the presence of Russia is the main factor of success for this organisation [SCO] and we are very grateful for this.
We have already met several times this year, and together discussed all problems. Now I would like to concentrate on several problems. One is reform of the CIS, which we will discuss in Kazan’. In general, all CIS members support the reform which we proposed. The second issue is a final decision of the border problem and intergovernmental procedures. And we have prepared several agreements on Baikonur (so as not to give rise to any questions – all social problems have been resolved, and our parties are settling other issues).
Other issues also compel us to meet. With your help and support we will build a monument in Moscow to our great philosopher and poet Abai. And perhaps I will lead this delegation, with your permission. In Astrakhan, a memorial museum of our great composer Kurman-Gazy is about to be completed. You and I will be invited to the opening. These are the issues which I would like to coordinate; all other problems are being solved.
Tomorrow in our presence, major agreements will be signed between Kazakhstan and Russia on the energy industry, which will raise trade turnover and bring us even closer together in economic integration.
Mr Putin: I fully share your assessment of the development of our relations. Indeed, this is a major step forward – signing the agreements which you mentioned just now. And this is the result of our joint work. I am absolutely certain that this is an excellent base for building relations in the future, to plan and make additional steps in the development of our countries. There are some issues which still remain to be discussed; I mean the transit of energy resources and several others. But they are all in the process of discussion. No problems arise there.
You talked about the humanitarian sphere, in which I include the erection of a monument and other memorials both in Kazakhstan and the Russian Federation. We certainly support all of this and will support it in the future, so everything that is needed from the Russian side to realise these projects will be done in the best possible way. I know that Kazakhstan does the same for Russia, including in issues of studying the Russian language, in supporting the high status of our cooperation in all areas. So I know that we have several more meetings ahead of us this year. We will continue working together.
Mr Nazarbayev: Our cultural ministries have proposed to declare next year the Year of Pushkin in Kazakhstan and the Year of Abai in Russia, so that cultural ties, ties of the intelligentsia, continue.
Mr Putin: Excellent.