Ukraine expresses profound concern over statement of Kazakh Foreign Ministry on referendum in Crimea

Natalia Galibarenko met with Ambassador of the Republic of Kazakhstan in Ukraine Zautbek Turisbekov on March 19, 2014First Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Natalia Galibarenko met with Ambassador of the Republic of Kazakhstan in Ukraine Zautbek Turisbekov on March 19 in Kyiv, the press service of the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry reported, azh.kz reports.

"Ukraine expressed its profound concern over the statement of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan on the so called “referendum” in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea," written in the statement of the Ministry.

"It was emphasized that its content contradicted previous statements of Kazakhstan, including those on the highest level, regarding the need to support territorial integrity of Ukraine," the message reads.

The nearest prospects of development of Ukraine-Kazakhstan relations as well as the schedule of bilateral contacts for the present year were also discussed.

The Foreign Ministry of Kazakhstan made a statement regarding the referendum in Crimea, stating that “the people in Kazakhstan have admitted the referendum as an expression of free will of the people of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea."