At bilateral meeting of the Presidents of Ukraine and Kazakhstan on
October 9, the two sides discussed a wide range of issues related to
bilateral cooperation, including trade and economic sphere, fuel and
energy and agro-industrial complexes.
Kazakhstan President Nursultan Nazarbayev and his Ukrainian
counterpart Petro Poroshenko talks carried on for more than an hour and a
half instead of the designated 40 minutes, Poroshenko said at a press
conference at the Akorda presidential palace on October 9.
“We had 40 minutes of negotiations face to face, but we exceeded this
time more than two times and could discuss all important issues in
details. First of all, it is important that we can continue our
political dialogue” Poroshenko said.
But the main issue of cooperation between our countries is energy.
“We agreed on the sort of Kazakh coal to deliver to Ukrainian power
stations taking into consideration ash content. And our coal private
companies will also make agreements on this,” Nazarbayev told the press
conference.
The second issue is related to supplies of equipment. “We have always
had good cooperation with Ukraine in this direction. It is about
delivery of turbine installations from Kharkov to Kazakhstan’s power
stations. We will continue this cooperation for our largest power
stations (Ekibastuz GRES-1 and GRES-2 power stations in the North of
Kazakhstan),” Nazarbayev said.
As for supplies of Kazakh oil to the Ukrainian oil refineries, there
is a problem, as the pipeline goes through the territory of Russia, the
Kazakh president said.
“However, we are ready to solve the issue of deliveries of Kazakh oil products to Ukraine,” he added.
As for the supplies of Kazakh coal to Ukrainian power stations,
today, heads of Ukrainian companies have been invited and discussed all
issues on these deliveries in details.
“Kazakhstan, Russia and Ukraine are the members of the WTO and must
comply with the accepted obligations. Our interrelations with the EU
expand our possibilities, and we can establish joint ventures not only
on the territory of Ukraine, but also in Kazakhstan. Kazakhstan for
Ukraine is window to Asia and Ukrain for Kazakhstan is window to
Europe,” Poroshenko said.
He expressed hope that his visit to Kazakhstan would activate cooperation between Kazakhstan and Ukraine.
Nazarbayev also expressed hope that the first visit of Poroshenko to
Astana as Ukraine’s President would improve cooperation and increase
trade that was reduced due to the conflict in Ukraine.
“Now the commodity turnover has sharply reduced due to the known
reasons. Prices for energy sources have fallen. There are sanctions and
difficulties because of the conflict. However, despite all this, we find
mutual understanding and possibilities to continue cooperation,”
Nazarbayev said.
He reminded that the Ukrainians took part in development of virgin
lands in Kazakhstan and many of them stayed here and became citizens of
Kazakhstan.
Also, under the chairmanship of the two presidents the talks are
being held in an expanded format. They will results signing several
bilateral documents. Among other things, the road map is to be signed,
which defines the priorities for development of bilateral relations
between Ukraine and Kazakhstan in trade, economic, energy, agriculture,
transport, industry and space sector in 2015-2017.
“I hope and I am glad that the last meeting of the ‘Norman four’ has
resolved the situation in Ukraine. The war has been finished. It is
necessary to move on, and Kazakhstan wishes peace to Ukraine. We wish
that the Ukrainian people feel calm and develop successfully,”
Nazarbayev said.
Poroshenko thanked Nazarbayev for his high estimation of efforts of
Ukrainian authority, which have led to the long-awaited cessation of
arms. “This long-awaited cessation of arms has come. Very little people
believed in that. The guns have been silent for two weeks, and this
gives grounds for restrained optimism. Removal of light vehicles, tanks
and mortars has begun. And it gives hope for preservation of this
fragile cessation of arms,” he said.
He thanked Kazakhstan’s leader and the Kazakh people for their strong
position on the situation in Ukraine. “We appreciate Kazakhstan’s
steadfast commitment regarding compliance with fundamental principles of
international norms and standards concerning the territorial integrity
and borders. I was very pleased, when speaking out at UN session, you,
Mister President (of Kazakhstan), mentioned Ukraine and it was also
pleasant to hear that you adhere to the position of territorial
integrity,” Poroshenko added.
There are 415 Kazakh-Ukrainian joint ventures in Kazakhstan, and
there are 124 Kazakh-Ukrainian joint ventures in Ukraine. According to
Nazarbayev, the trade turnover between Kazakhstan and Ukraine decreased
more than twice. “In recent years, trade declined from $5.3 billion to
$2.2 billion,” he said. “Some would say that now is difficult to develop
business in the conditions of Russian aggression, annexation, but I
want to assure you, it is not. Today is the best time to work together
to start working. A war we will stop,” Poroshenko said.
http://neurope.eu/article/ukraine-looks-to-kazakhstan-for-supply-of-power-stations/