In Kazakhstan, Lieberman talks trade and signs a consultation agreement

In Kazakhstan, Lieberman

By JPOST.COM STAFF
Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman met his Kazakh counterpart, Kanat Saudabayev, as well as the country's president, Nursultan Nazarbayev, on Monday for discussions on bilateral relations and the completion of pending economic and trade agreements between the countries. Lieberman and his Kazakh counterpart signed a "consultation agreement," said the Foreign Ministry in Jerusalem. It added that the two men also discussed global political and security issues, particularly in the Middle East. Lieberman thanked Nazarbayev for promoting good relations between Israel and Kazakhstan, which he said served as an example of a country that preserves its own traditions while being tolerant of other religions and traditions. Lieberman acceded to Kazakhstan's request to support its candidacy for the executive board of UNESCO at Wednesday's vote, and he also agreed to back Kazakhstan's upgrade in the Kyoto Protocol on the environment. The Kazakhs agreed to support the Israeli representative in her bid for a second term on the UNESCO Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women. Meanwhile, Defense Minister Ehud Barak is set to head off Tuesday for state visits to the Czech Republic and Poland. In a statement Monday, the Defense Ministry said Barak would hold a series of meetings with top officials from both countries on security ties between Israel and European countries, the Iranian threat, the Goldstone Commission report and the Israeli-Palestinian peace process.