Russia confirms absence of territorial claims to Kazakhstan at top level - Kazakh FM

NUR-SULTAN. March 10 (Interfax) - Russia does not have any territorial claims to Kazakhstan, Kazakh Foreign Minister Mukhtar Tleuberdi said.

"It was confirmed at the highest level during a working visit of our president to Moscow that Russia does not have any territorial claims to Kazakhstan," Tleuberdi said in comment on Russian politician Gennady Zyuganov's call for protecting the Russian-speaking population of northern Kazakhstan.

"Our countries have laid a respective legal basis, our borders have been delimitated, and the demarcation process is ongoing. The demarcation process will be completed within the next two or three years," he said.

Zyuganov is the leader of the Russian Communist Party, which is in opposition to the incumbent Russian authorities, so the Kazakh Foreign Ministry will not make a formal protest, Tleuberdi said.

"There will be no formal protest. [...] As you know, the opposition always expresses views that are either different from or at odds with the official stance of the incumbent authorities. Please note that Zyuganov's speech has not been aired by any Russian federal channels," he said.

Zyuganov urged the Russian authorities to protect northern Kazakhstan, which he described as "largely Russian."