During the official visit to Kazakhstan, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Israel Avigdor Liberman was received by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan Kanat Saudabayev. Avigdor Liberman had a meeting with the Head of State Nursultan Nazarbayev. The new minister of foreign affairs of Israel is establishing long-term economic cooperation with Kazakhstan, a valuable trading partner.

On October 12th in Astana, Vice Prime Minister of Israel and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Israel Avigdor Liberman visited synagogue Beit Rahel. Best representatives of Jewish people in Kazakhstan came to the capital synagogue to meet with the high level guest.

Avigdor Liberman, Alexander Mashkevich, Eshaya Kogen, Alexander Baron were on the panel. The meeting was opened by the chief rabbi of Kazakhstan Eshaya Kogen, then Alexander Baron greeted the guest. In his speech, Alexander Baron underlined the important role Kazakhstan had played in survival of refugees and evacuated Jews during the World War II and presented two books about evacuation prepared by the Jewish community. In a private talk with Alexander Baron, Avigdor Liberman said that during the war his mother had been evacuated to Kazakhstan, lived not far from Taraz and she still had the warm memories of the kind attitude of the local population. The guest was greeted by the Chairman of the Eurasian Jewish Congress Alexander Mashkevich. After that, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Israel Avigdor Liberman addressed the audience with a speech. He spoke about foreign policy of Israel, issues of expanding cooperation with other countries and about implementation of projects in agriculture and information technologies sectors.

At the meeting with Avigdor Liberman in the synagogue the following officials were also present: Director of Astana Hesed Elena Levina, Director of Karaganda Hesed Miriam Bella Kamenetskaya, Chairman of the Hesed Counsil Iosif Breido, and a Chairman of Jewish Community of Temirtau Vladimir Vaisbein. The meeting strengthened ties and cooperation between Kazakhstan and Israel in economic, political and cultural areas.

Bella Kamenetskaya