US and Kazakh Foreign Ministers Discuss Energy Security and Economic Cooperation in Phone Call

Washington, July 29 (KUNA) -- U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio held a telephone conversation with his Kazakh counterpart Yerik Kosherbayev today, Wednesday, to discuss energy security and enhance economic cooperation between the two countries. In a statement, U.S. State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott said that both sides emphasized the importance of energy security, including the reliable and uninterrupted export of Kazakh oil via the Caspian Pipeline Consortium, for stability and prosperity in the region. Pigott added that Rubio expressed his appreciation to his Kazakh counterpart for Kazakhstan’s strong support of the peace initiatives launched by U.S. President Donald Trump, and conveyed his interest in strengthening bilateral economic cooperation. The Kazakh Ministry of Energy had announced on the 23rd of this month that oil companies in the country had temporarily reduced production due to the suspension of oil shipments through the Caspian Sea terminal, following a series of drone attacks targeting Kazakh-chartered oil tankers near the facility. (End) A.M.M. / S.A.M.