President Sarkissian: Armenia ready to strengthen friendly ties with Kazakhstan
YEREVAN, Jan. 11. /ARKA/. Armenian President Armen Sarkissian had a telephone conversation with Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev on Tuesday, Sarkissian’s press service reported.
It said Tokayev briefed Sarkissian on the current situation in Kazakhstan and the measures taken to restore constitutional order.
Sarkissian expressed his deep condolences to the families and friends of the victims killed in clashes between protesters and security forces and wished a speedy recovery to the injured.
The Armenian President expressed hope that peace and stability will soon be restored in the country and that overcoming the consequences of the clashes will open the way to a new future for Kazakhstan and its people. He also stressed Armenia's readiness to further strengthen friendly relations with Kazakhstan.
On January 2, protests erupted in Kazakhstan over a sharp rise in the price of liquefied gas, which swiftly escalated into violent clashes between protesters and law enforcement officers. The government resigned amidst the unrest. A state of emergency was introduced throughout the country.
President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev dismissed ex-president Nursultan Nazarbayev as head of the Council of the Republic. On the same day, Tokayev asked his CSTO partners for support. On January 6, a contingent of the CSTO collective peacekeeping forces composed of the armed forces of Russia, Belarus, Armenia, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan were sent to Kazakhstan. According to official reports, 164 people were killed during the turmoil in Kazakhstan, including a 4-year-old girl.
Kassym-Jomart Tokayev said on Tuesday that CSTO peacekeepers will begin leaving his country in two days.
"The main mission of the CSTO peacekeeping forces has been successfully completed," Tokayev told Kazakhstan's parliament Tuesday.
"In two days' time, a phased withdrawal of the CSTO united peacekeeping contingent will begin. The withdrawal process of the contingent will take no more than 10 days," he added. -0-
