LOC10:17
07:17 GMT
WASHINGTON, July 9 (KUNA) -- The U.S. Defense Department desires to
continue working with Kazakhstan to further develop the bilateral security
relationship, reiterated US Secretary of State Chuck Hagel.
The statement came during Hagel's meeting with the Foreign Minister of
Kazakhstan Erlan Idrissov, the Pentagon announced here Monday.
At the "2012 Seoul Nuclear Security Summit" in March 2012, Presidents Barak
Obama and Nursultan Nazarbayev reaffirmed bilateral cooperation in the areas
of nuclear nonproliferation.
Responding to a U.S. appeal, the Kazakhstani legislature approved sending
military engineers to assist in coalition operations in Iraq, in addition to
the Kazakhstani troops dismantling of four million mines and other explosives
as well as providing medical care to several coalition members and civilians
during the Iraqi wars.
Kazakhstan has also permitted air and land transit for U.S. and NATO troops
and equipment-as part of the Northern Distribution Network-to support
stabilization operations in Afghanistan.
Pentagon Press Secretary George Little said in a statement that Hagel
"praised Kazakhstan for its support for the coalition in Afghanistan and for
hosting the Northern Distribution Network (NDN)."
Hagel also reaffirmed his country's "enduring commitment to security in
Afghanistan and the region beyond 2014.
The Pentagon chief also affirmed that "our two nations will continue to
work closely together to advance our common interests around the world," the
statement noted. (end)
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