Kazakhstani, French presidents to set up commission.

6/10 Tass 150

ASTANA, October 6 (Itar-Tass) - The presidents of Kazakhstan and
France, Nursultan Nazarbayev and Nicolas Sarkozy, decided to set up the
Sarkozy-Nazarbayev commission.

"We have just discussed questions of bilateral relations and problems
of Afghanistan and Iran. Our opinions on these matters coincide. I am in
favour of the idea of convening a conference on Afghanistan, maybe Kabul,
or maybe in Astana. I am grateful for your support for the convocation of
the OSCE summit in Astana. We have agreed to set up the Sarkozy-Nazarbayev
commission to be in control, and it will be meeting regularly," Nazarbayev
said during the talks with the French president.
Nazarbayev said the political dialogue between Kazakhstan and France
was "intensive and trusting." "France is the first European country to
have signed the agreement on strategic partnership with Kazakhstan. France
is one of Kazakhstan's main economic partners," Nazarbayev stressed.
He said from 2003 the trade turnover between the two countries grew
ten-fold to reach 6.5 billion dollars. "We are determined to intensify the
process. Twenty-four agreements have been prepared for signing. This is
unique and means a breakthrough in relations between Kazakhstan and
France," Nazarbayev said.
-0-saf/gor