Prime Minister Vladimir Putin congratulates Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev on his 70th birthday
The message reads, in part:
Kazakhstan's accomplishments are inextricably linked with your name. You have been not only the leader of your country but also its symbol for over 20 years. You have won the sincere respect of your fellow citizens and millions of Russians with your wisdom as a statesman, vast political experience, discernment, organisational skills and personal qualities.
You are making a great personal contribution to the development of friendly relations and the strategic partnership between the Russian Federation and the Republic of Kazakhstan, which strengthens our alliance. It is hard to overestimate your effort to intensify integration through the Commonwealth of Independent States, and increase the effectiveness and cohesion of the Collective Security Treaty Organisation, the Eurasian Economic Community, the Customs Union and the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation.
