NATO CHIEF IN KAZAKSTAN AT START OF REGIONAL VISIT.

Publication: Monitor Volume: 3 Issue: 50

Commencing an official tour of the five Central Asian countries, NATO secretary general Javier Solana conferred on March 10-11 with Kazakstani president Nursultan Nazarbaev and other senior officials. At a concluding briefing, Foreign Minister Kasymzhomart Tokaev cited Nazarbaev’s view that NATO’s eastward enlargement is "irreversible" and will not have any "negative consequences" for Europe or the world, but should proceed gradually in order to address Russian concerns. Defense Minister Mukhtar Altynbaev discussed with the NATO visitors a training program for Kazakstani officers. The Almaty officials agreed with Solana that cooperation between NATO and Kazakstan "will benefit stability and security in Central Asia." (Xinhua, Interfax, March 11)

The Monitor is a publication of the Jamestown Foundation. It is researched and written under the direction of senior analysts Jonas Bernstein, Vladimir Socor, Stephen Foye, and analysts Ilya Malyakin, Oleg Varfolomeyev and Ilias Bogatyrev. If you have any questions regarding the content of the Monitor, please contact the foundation. If you would like information on subscribing to the Monitor, or have any comments, suggestions or questions, please contact us by e-mail at pubs@jamestown.org, by fax at 301-562-8021, or by postal mail at The Jamestown Foundation, 4516 43rd Street NW, Washington DC 20016. Unauthorized reproduction or redistribution of the Monitor is strictly prohibited by law. Copyright (c) 1983-2002 The Jamestown Foundation Site Maintenance by Johnny Flash Productions