President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev met last Monday with a delegation of Jewish leaders from around the world led by President of the Euro-Asian Jewish Congress (EAJC) Michael Mirilashvili, EAJC Chairman of the Board Aaron G. Frenkel, EAJC Vice President Temur Ben Yehuda (Khikhinashvili) and the Head of the rabbinical Council of the CIS, Chief Rabbi of Russia Berel Lazar.
The parties noted that the Jewish community of Kazakhstan has been thriving and receiving all the support it needs from the government. The leaders urged President Tokayev to support Israel on the international stage and thanked the head of state for taking a firm stand in denouncing anti-Semitism and supporting the Jewish community.
At the meeting, the leaders discussed a wide range of issues pertaining to the current situation of the Jewish community and bilateral relations between Kazakhstan and Israel.
In addition to meeting with the President of Kazakhstan, the delegation of Jewish leaders also met with the country’s prime minister, Askar Mamin, who told the participants about his plans to visit Israel by official invitation of Prime Minister Netanyahu and expressed hopes for expanding bilateral trade between the two countries.
The delegation held business meetings with the Israeli ambassador in Kazakhstan, Liat Vekselman, as well as religious and secular leaders of Jewish communities from across Kazakhstan that receive the support and assistance from EAJC. Members of the delegation were invited to join a session of the Assembly of People of Kazakhstan.
After visiting Kazakhstan, the delegation headed to Azerbaijan for the next round of top-level talks.
Members of the delegation included EAJC CEO, Haim Ben Yakov, President of the Association of Jewish Communities of Kazakhstan – “Mitzvah,” Alexander Baron, and Chief Rabbi of Kazakhstan, Yeshaya Cohen.
