OREANDA-NEWS.  Prior to the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council meeting, Vladimir Putin met with President of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev.

A package of documents on cooperation between the two countries in various spheres was executed following the talks.  Vladimir Putin and Nursultan Nazarbayev signed an Agreement Between the Russian Federation and the Republic of Kazakhstan on Military Technical Cooperation.  In addition, the parties signed documents on the joint use of the Baikonur Cosmodrome in 2014-2016, on the transportation of Russian oil to China through the territory of Kazakhstan and on the delivery of crude oil and petroleum products to Kazakhstan.

* * *

Beginning of the meeting with President of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev

PRESIDENT OF RUSSIA VLADIMIR PUTIN: Good afternoon, Mr Nazarbayev, friends,

We are happy to have the opportunity to hold this meeting, and I am certain it will not be wasted.  Our colleagues have been working hard to prepare a number of documents, and much has been done since our previous meeting on specific issues pertaining to the expansion of our cooperation in some sensitive areas, including the energy sector and the Baikonur Cosmodrome.

I am very happy to welcome you, Mr Nazarbayev.

PRESIDENT OF KAZAKHSTAN NURSULTAN NAZARBAYEV: Mr Putin, thank you for this meeting on the eve of the meeting of our Eurasian troika.

The year is drawing to a close.  I believe this has been a very good year for bilateral relations.  We signed an Agreement on Good-Neighbourliness and Alliance in the 21st Century, and I am especially grateful to you and your colleagues in the Government for resolving the issues we had.

I would like to note that today we will be signing an agreement on defence cooperation and a roadmap of joint efforts on Baikonur.  By the way, this agreement makes it possible to involve our Ukrainian partners from Yuzhmash in rocket construction.  We have addressed these issues, as well as those of shipping petroleum products to Kazakhstan.  Everything has been resolved; I have no more questions.

Today we will be discussing important matters pertaining to the creation of the Eurasian Economic Union.  We must finalise the agreement in the summer of 2014, and the union should become operable as of January 1, 2015.  Kazakhstan is fully committed to the process and will promote and support it.

The Olympic Games in Sochi are approaching.  I know that a great amount of work is being done.  Naturally, we wish every success to the athletes and to Russia in the implementation of this event.

VLADIMIR PUTIN: Thank you.