NAZARBAEV LAYS BASIS FOR RELATIONS WITH PERSIAN GULF STATES.

Kazakhstani president Nursultan Nazarbaev yesterday completed a five-day tour of Persian Gulf countries where he discussed possible investments in Kazakhstan’s oil and gas industry and export pipeline routes. Talks with the Amirs of Kuwait and Bahrain and the Sultan of Oman resulted in the signing of agreements on trade, on the promotion and protection of investments, and on the opening of direct air routes. Nazarbaev reiterated that Iran and the Persian Gulf constitute the optimal export route for Kazakhstan’s and Turkmenistan’s oil and gas and also for other Central Asian exports. He urged that "political considerations not be allowed to stand in the way" of opening up this export route. (Western and Russian agencies, August 31-September 4)

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