Meeting with Chairman of Kazakhstan’s National Security Committee Karim Massimov

Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko met with Chairman of Kazakhstan’s National Security Committee Karim Massimov to discuss the prospects for the development of cooperation between the special services of the two countries.

Speaking about the cooperation of the special services of Belarus and Kazakhstan, Aleksandr Lukashenko noted that they have established productive cooperation. "The agreements that you will reach with your Belarusian counterpart [KGB head] will be executed faithfully. We will work together where it is necessary and beneficial for us and Kazakhstan," the head of state said. “It would be great if our special services establish an additional channel of communication through which we will discuss and make decisions on sensitive issues."

Belarus and Kazakhstan have traditionally friendly and close relations in all avenues. Aleksandr Lukashenko noted that at the CSTO summit in Dushanbe he intends to meet with Kazakhstan President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and discuss the development of cooperation between the countries. "You are very lucky to have Kassym-Jomart Tokayev as President. Others need to learn from you, your close-knit work for the people, for the state," the Belarusian leader said.

Aleksandr Lukashenko assured that Belarus has not stood aside and will not stand aside from the Afghanistan issue.

“Our meeting is timely. I am currently gathering information. This year I will attend two important events, I can say, even landmark events. Tomorrow I will meet with the Russian President. It is clear that we will discuss the situation in our Eurasian Economic Union, and especially the situation connected with Afghanistan, the impact of the Afghanistan factor on Central Asia, Russia. Obviously, the Belarusians have not stood aside and will not stand aside from it,” Aleksandr Lukashenko remarked.

The President stressed that the Belarusian side will be committed to the CSTO’s course on Afghanistan. “Russia and you know better what is going on there. Let’s be honest, you are more affected by the events in the Middle East, in Central Asia, Southern Asia. You are affected by those problems because the country is huge and all eyes are on it. We can see it in Belarus: it is not always easy for us to live in the center of Europe. Therefore, such meetings are very important,” the head of state said.

For his part, Karim Massimov thanked the Belarusian head of state for the opportunity to meet. He said that before the trip to Belarus he had a meeting with Kazakhstan’s first President Nursultan Nazarbayev and the current head of state Kassym-Jomart Tokayev. “They asked me to convey greetings to you. Nursultan Abishevich said: “Say a big hello to my old friend.” Jomart Kemelevich also gave me instructions, which I would like to discuss with you ahead of your meeting on the sidelines of the CSTO in Dushanbe on 16 September,” said the chairman of the Kazakhstan’s National Security Committee.

“I think we have a lot to discuss, as we are friendly countries. We have common goals and objectives. We must help each other,” Karim Massimov said.