Russian, Kazakh presidents discuss bilateral relations over phone

By Elena Teslova

MOSCOW (AA) - The Russian and Kazakh presidents discussed the possibilities of expansion of economic cooperation and the development of bilateral ties in a phone call on Friday, a Kremlin statement said.

According to the statement, Vladimir Putin and Kassym-Jomart Tokayev also spoke about the cooperation within the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), a military bloc, comprising six post-Soviet states -- Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia and Tajikistan.

The CSTO played a crucial role in restoring order in Kazakhstan in January this year, when protests against the rise of fuel prices broke out in the Central Asian country.

"The intention to strengthen the Russian-Kazakh relations of alliance and strategic partnership in every possible way was confirmed," it said.

Putin and Tokayev agreed to maintain contacts, it added.