Transcript of the beginning of the meeting:
Nursultan Nazarbayev: Mr Medvedev, it’s such a pleasure to have you here. We haven’t seen each other for a long time. These are challenging, turbulent times. But there is complete trust between our countries and no problems whatsoever. If there ever are, they are problems Russia and Kazakhstan face together.
Meeting with Kazakhstan’s President Nursultan Nazarbayev
Starting 1 January 2015, we’ll be working under the Eurasian Economic Union system. Some say trade has decreased and so on, but that’s only in monetary terms. The actual scale of the cooperation between enterprises and companies, on the other hand… Joint companies are developing and conditions will improve. We both benefit from having common customs borders and free movement of goods and people. At the meeting on 23 December in Moscow, we will ratify Armenia’s accession. Kyrgyzstan may also be ready by then. I know from our prime minister that you and he have discussed all the other issues. Tomorrow, a SCO meeting will take place. And we will have an official reception for Kazakhstan’s Independence Day and our capital – in 1997, I made Astana the capital of Kazakhstan by proclamation, and for its 10th anniversary you delivered a speech in Kazakh, which everyone remembers.
Dmitry Medvedev: Mr Nazarbayev, first, thank you very much for your invitation to visit Kazakhstan.
We are indeed very close partners, and ahead of us lies a very comprehensive integration project that we’re already living in. To pick up on what you said, an increase or decrease in trade – all these things are temporary, everything will work out. The main thing is that the integration project is making progress, and you were among those who were there at the very beginning. I think it is very important that the Eurasian Economic Union will start up next year. Mr Putin sends his regards. We have several things to discuss.
Of course, I would like to take the opportunity to cordially congratulate you and all the Kazakh people on your upcoming Independence Day. We will celebrate it tomorrow together, which I think is a good symbol. And the fact that heads of government of the SCO member states will hold a meeting here tomorrow, demonstrates that there is no alternative to free and friendly commerce.
There is a special relationship between our countries, but I don’t need to repeat myself here. Again, I would like to cordially thank you for the invitation.
Nursultan Nazarbayev: Thank you. We can discuss various issues.
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