ASTANA. Oct 24 (Interfax) - Kazakhstan's government was upbeat on Monday about having hired former British prime minister Tony Blair as an adviser for the country's international economic ad political affairs.
Blair's recruitment by Kazakhstan was reported by Britain's Sunday Telegraph on October 23. The deal was said to be worth 8 million British pounds, but Blair said the figure was incorrect.
"Seeking to support the further successful development of [Kazakhstan], some prominent foreign statesmen have responded to a proposal from the government of Kazakhstan that they provide advice on economic policies, state governance and international politics. Among them were some former heads of state and government, including Tony Blair, the former British prime minister," Kazakh Foreign Ministry spokesman Altai Abbibulayev told a briefing in Astana.
Worldwide experience shows that "interaction with such politicians brings important practical results: it helps make a country more attractive for investment and bring out laws that create an environment for further sustained national development," Abbibulayev said.