ALMA-ATA. June 10 (Interfax-AVN) - The Turkish Armed Forces have handed over a $1.13 million worth of defense equipment and Land Rover cross-country vehicles to Kazakhstan for free.
An Interfax correspondent reports that the ceremony held in Almaty Friday was attended by Kazakh Deputy Defense Minister Abai Tasbulatov and Turkish Ambassador to Kazakhstan Taner Seben.
A total of 24 Land Rovers, including four medical versions, and automobile and portable radios were handed over to the Kazakh Armed Forces.
Speaking at the ceremony, the Turkish ambassador said that defense cooperation is an important sphere of Turkish-Kazakh relations.
Turkey regards Kazakhstan as an element of stability and security in Central Asia. "By providing military and technical aid to Kazakhstan Turkey is contributing to security in the region," he said.
According to him, the Turkish Armed Forces have provided Kazakh counterparts with $6.5 million worth of military and technical aid since 1998. He added that Turkey had earlier handed over motorboats, cross country vehicles, computers, logistic equipment and some other assets.
Moreover, the ambassador said, Turkey has been educating Kazakh officers since 1993. "Quite a large contingent of Kazakh officers studies now in military schools and academies of Turkey," he added.