Putin, Nazarbaev To Attend Russian-Kazakh Border Forum

Putin (left) and Nazarbaev in Astana in January (ITAR-TASS) October 3, 2006 -- Russia's President Vladimir Putin has arrived in Kazakhstan's northwestern city of Uralsk to take part in a forum that will bring together the governors of the border regions of both countries.

Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbaev is also due to attend.

The Russian president is traveling with a large delegation that includes many cabinet members and security officials.

Putin and Nazarbaev are due to sign today a number of economic agreements, including one under which the output of Kazakhstan's Karachaganak natural-gas deposit would be processed in Russia's Orenburg Oblast.

In a statement released on October 2, Kazakhstan's Naghiz Ak Zhol opposition party voiced its opposition to the proposed deal, saying the gas produced in Karachaganak should be refined in Kazakhstan.

(ITAR-TASS, Interfax-Kazakhstan)