OREANDA-NEWS.  February 11, 2014. Minister of Transport and Communications of Kazakhstan A. Zhumagaliyev discussed measures to ensure a guaranteed system of flights between two countries in the coming travel season with the authorities of the Ministry of Transport, maritime traffics and communications of Turkey.

A special attention was paid to ensure the safe arrival and return of Kazakhstan citizens during a stay in the touristic areas of Turkey within the 17th Eurasian Economic Forum during the meeting held on February 6 in Istanbul.

A. Zhumagaliyev noted the importance of the negotiations held last year at the level of aviation authorities that resulted in the number of regular flights between two countries increased from 14 to 21 per week that was an increase of air transport up to 50%.

Parties also noted significant progress in the field of international road transport among other pressing issues of bilateral cooperation. Specifically, they agreed to continue the dialogue between two countries at expert level.

Parties stressed that the mechanism of guaranteed traffic of Kazakhstan's vehicles in Turkey showed a positive result. Especially, in 2013 more than 1 800 flights were loaded in the territory of Turkey, the share of Kazakhstan operators has increased more than twice.

Also, Kazakhstan and Turkey shared common opinion on accelerating the introduction of the permit quota allocation mechanism that meet the needs of Turkish carriers. In particular, in 2014, permit quota has been increased up to 10 500 units that is greater than quota of 2013 for 40 % (3000 units).

During the conversation, A. Zhumagaliyev emphasized the importance of transit development potential of Kazakhstan in the context of global initiatives to revivewider opportunities of the Silk Road. In this regard, he called tocooperate more actively on the basis of joint economic program "New Synergy" under the patronage of the Presidents of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev and Turkey Abdullah Gul for 2012-2015.

The meeting was also attended by the Deputy Chairman of the Turkish Civil Aviation Kesidzhi Bahri and Ambassadorof Kazakhstanto Turkey Zhanseit Tuymebayev.