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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
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| US nurtures ties with Kazakhstan | US nurtures ties with Kazakhstan |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| US President George W Bush has held talks with Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev, bolstering ties with the oil-producing central Asian country. | US President George W Bush has held talks with Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev, bolstering ties with the oil-producing central Asian country. |
| Economic relations are thought to have topped the Washington visit agenda. | Economic relations are thought to have topped the Washington visit agenda. |
| "In economics, in energy partnership, in war on terror, we truly become close partners," the Kazakh leader said. | "In economics, in energy partnership, in war on terror, we truly become close partners," the Kazakh leader said. |
| US concerns over Kazakhstan's human rights record did not come up when the two leaders appeared before reporters after their Oval Office meeting. | US concerns over Kazakhstan's human rights record did not come up when the two leaders appeared before reporters after their Oval Office meeting. |
| In Kazakhstan, the media is controlled by the state and since the country achieved independence in December 1991 no election has been seen as free or fair. | In Kazakhstan, the media is controlled by the state and since the country achieved independence in December 1991 no election has been seen as free or fair. |
| President Nazarbayev has led his country with a tight rein on power - but the BBC's Jonathan Beale, at the US state department, says the US has been willing to overlook complaints about his autocratic rule. | President Nazarbayev has led his country with a tight rein on power - but the BBC's Jonathan Beale, at the US state department, says the US has been willing to overlook complaints about his autocratic rule. |
| In a recent BBC interview, the Kazakh president agreed there may be a lack of democracy, but described political freedom as his goal and said the young country needed more time. | In a recent BBC interview, the Kazakh president agreed there may be a lack of democracy, but described political freedom as his goal and said the young country needed more time. |
| 'Close partners' | 'Close partners' |
| President Nazarbayev has ruled Kazakhstan for nearly 17 yearsKazakhstan is the closest US ally in central Asia. | |
| Mr Bush thanked Kazakhstan for its role in what Washington calls the war on terror, and its help with the post-war reconstruction of Iraq and Afghanistan. | Mr Bush thanked Kazakhstan for its role in what Washington calls the war on terror, and its help with the post-war reconstruction of Iraq and Afghanistan. |
| President Nazarbayev was also praised for his "commitment to institutions that will enable liberty to flourish", and for developing his country into "a free nation". | President Nazarbayev was also praised for his "commitment to institutions that will enable liberty to flourish", and for developing his country into "a free nation". |
| Following the "closed-door" talks, Mr Bush offered to support Kazakhstan's ambition to join the World Trade Organisation. | Following the "closed-door" talks, Mr Bush offered to support Kazakhstan's ambition to join the World Trade Organisation. |
| The US is the largest investor in Kazakhstan's oil and gas industry, and rivalry over its natural resources has turned the economy into a rare post-Soviet success story. | The US is the largest investor in Kazakhstan's oil and gas industry, and rivalry over its natural resources has turned the economy into a rare post-Soviet success story. |
| Kazakhstan is expected to pump 3.5m barrels of oil a day in the coming decade. Both China and Russia are operating pipelines in the country. | Kazakhstan is expected to pump 3.5m barrels of oil a day in the coming decade. Both China and Russia are operating pipelines in the country. |