Turkish parliament speaker says Kazakhstan has gained significant prestige in 20 years

ANKARA (A.A) - November 28, 2011 - Turkish parliament speaker said on Monday that Kazakhstan had gained significant prestige in the last 20 years. Cemil Cicek said Turkey would be pleased with every positive development in Kazakhstan. "Kazakhstan has gained a significant place and prestige in its region and the world in the last 20 years," Cicek said as he met Kazakh Senate Speaker Kairat Mami in Ankara. Cicek said Turkey was supporting Kazakhstan's bid to gain a non-permanent seat at the United Nations (UN) Security Council for 2017-2018 term. "We hope Turkey will be a non-permanent member of the council in 2015-2016 term, and Turkey and Kazakhstan will be the predecessor and successor of each other. We expect your support," Cicek also said. Mami, in his part, said Turkay was the first country that recognized Kazakhstan's independence, and relations had upgraded to the level of "strategic partnership" in 20 years.  The Kazakh speaker said two countries aimed to achieve an annual trade volume of 10 billion USD, and more than 3,000 Turkish enterprises were operating in his country.