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Kazakhstan, France deepen military ties

ASTANA, Kazakhstan, May 25 (UPI) -- France and Kazakhstan are seeking to deepen their military ties.

Kazinform news agency reported on May 23 that Kazakh Defense Minister Gen. Mukhtar Altynbayev met with the Speaker of French Senate, Christian Poncelet, during his state visit to Kazakhstan.

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Altynbayev told Poncelet about the Kazakh Armed Forces' reforms as outlined in President Nursultan Nazarbayev's March 1 national address. Issues covered during the discussions included international and regional security and increased bilateral military cooperation.

The meeting was part of the Kazakh-French biannual armament session to increase military technical interaction between French and Kazakh defense companies.

Poncelet also met with Kazakh Prime Minister Daniyal Ahmetov and informed him of France's support both for Kazakhstan's ambition to chair the Office for Security and Cooperation in Europe in 2009 and its aspiration to join the World Trade Organization.

Currently about 40 French companies are involved in joint ventures in Kazakhstan's oil and energy sectors.

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