Kazakhstan, EU to discuss Political Dialogue Priorities for 2012

    By K. Konyrova
    Kazakhstan and the European Union will discuss priorities and tasks for a political dialogue in 2012 during a meeting on part of Kazakh Foreign Minister Yerzhan Kazykhanov with Pierre Morel, European Union special representative for Central Asia to be held in Astana on Jan.25, an official of the Kazakh Foreign Ministry Altay Abibulayev said on Monday.
    "During a meeting, the parties are expected to discuss the existing state of and prospects for relations in the format Kazakhstan-Central Asia-European Union, as well as prospects and goals for political dialogue between Kazakhstan and the European Union in 2012, results for the state program -- "the Way to Europe" and "Strategy for the European Union to Central Asia, interaction in energy and environmental protection," Abibulayev said at a briefing in Astana.
    Abibulayev said that views on internal security, combating terrorism and drug trafficking, border management, regional and trans-border cooperation, religious tolerance, the situation in Zhanaozen, as well as pressing political events in Kazakhstan and regional issues will be discussed, Trend says.