Kazakh Leader's EU Visit Yields Energy Steps

Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbaev (in file photo) is in Brussels for talks with NATO and the EU (epa) December 4, 2006 -- EU justice ministers today approved a cooperation pact on nuclear energy with Kazakhstan as part of efforts to diversify European supplies, in one of several moves that highlight Central Asia's growing role in EU energy plans.

The two sides also signed a declaration on the peaceful use of nuclear energy.

The head of the European Commission, Jose Manuel Barroso, said after talks with visiting President Nursultan Nazarbaev that Kazakhstan will play an important part in the EU's evolving energy security strategy.

"Security of energy supply is very much at the top of the European Union's political agenda, and the European Union is keen to enhance relations with Kazakhstan, a partner that we give a great value," Barroso said. "In fact, we were very encouraged during our meeting to listen to President Nazarbaev when he said he is ready to consider all those issues in a very pragmatic and a very economic manner."

Nazarbaev said after the meeting that Kazakhstan supports EU plans to source up to a quarter of its energy needs from the Caspian region.

He called "this visit and these talks, as a whole...an important stage in the development of our bilateral ties."

He said his country would consider all economically viable routes to transit of oil and gas to Europe, whether via Russia or trans-Caucasian pipelines.

"Generally speaking, we will use all [export] routes that are profitable to Kazakhstan," Nazarbaev vowed.

Uranium Source

Kazakhstan is the world's third-biggest producer of uranium but accounts for just 3 percent of uranium deliveries to EU utilities.

The nuclear agreements signed today cover areas such as increasing nuclear safety, controlled nuclear fusion, research and development, and trade in nuclear materials.

The deals came during a visit to Brussels by President Nazarbaev, who was also due to meet NATO officials.

"These documents are proof of the importance the European Union and Kazakhstan give to increasing cooperation in the energy sector," Barroso said.

OSCE Question Looms

Nazarbaev's visit coincides with a meeting in Brussels of foreign ministers of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) to debate issues that include Kazakhstan's bid to chair that organization in 2009.

The Kazakh leader today confirmed his country's intention to bid for the OSCE chairmanship in 2009 -- and not later, as the United States and some other OSCE members have asked.

(Reuters)