Kazakhstan’s Defense Minister Adilbek Dzhaksybekov and Defense Minister Moshe Ya’alon signed a security-military cooperation pact on Monday in Tel Aviv.“We value Kazakhstan, a country with a will and intention to strengthen cooperation with us,” Ya’alon said during a ceremony after the signing.“This is a first visit by a Kazakhstani defense minister in Israel, and I am sure he will find that we are a small country that is rich in history and in good people. Israel faces one of the highest number of challenges among countries in the world, because of the difficult neighborhood in which we live, but it knows how to defend itself,” Ya’alon added.
Dzhaksybekov said he hoped his visit would form a milestone for tightening cooperation between the two states.“Israel is one of the leading countries in the world in trade with Kazakhstan. The economy always strengthens cooperation, and I hope this visit strengthens security cooperation between the two states,” he added. “Israel is a small country that is known throughout the world for its capabilities.”Defense officials declined to provide further details about the nature of the agreement.