| David Cameron has raised Kazakhstan's human rights record with its leader during a controversial trade mission to the country. The Prime Minister held talks with President Nursultan Nazarbayev, who has been labelled a dictator by critics, on the historic visit. The trip is the first by a serving British Prime Minister and is aimed at helping the UK catch up with other Western countries in forging ties with the the mineral-rich nation. He is leading a 30-strong business delegation to the country but has been forced to reject assertions he is putting economic ties ahead of concerns over human rights abuses. He insisted "Britain always stands up for human rights wherever we are in the world" and told a joint press conference he had raised the issue during the talks. However, Mr Nazarbayev insisted the "key human rights" were secure in Kazakhstan and added: "Nobody has a right to instruct us how to live." The two leaders signed a new strategic partnership and deals worth £700m to British businesses were sealed during the visit. They held talks on the presidential jet last night and visited the Irish Bar in Astana's Rixos hotel for a nightcap before holding further discussions at the Al Orda Palace on Monday morning. Ahead of the visit, campaign group Human Rights Watch claimed there is a "serious and deteriorating" situation in Kazakhstan. This includes "credible allegations of torture, the imprisonment of government critics, tight controls over the media and freedom of expression and association, limits on religious freedom, and continuing violations of workers' rights", it said. Amnesty International UK's head of policy and government affairs Allan Hogarth added: "Kazakhstan might be knee-deep in oil and gas wealth, but David Cameron shouldn't let lucrative energy deals prevent him from raising human rights during his trip." Mr Cameron said on Monday: "In the relationship Britain has with Kazakhstan and the relationship I have with President Nazarbayev nothing is off the agenda. "We talked about a full range of subjects and that includes subjects including human rights, issues that we discussed at some length last night. I discussed, for instance, the letter written by Human Rights Watch and the concerns in that letter. "I think it is very important that we have a frank dialogue on all of these issues and that is the way it should be." Mr Nazarbayev added that Kazakhstan had free elections and "no political oppression", stressing that full democracy was the country's goal. The leader, who won 95.5% of the vote in election in April 2011, was also asked what advice he could give the British leader. He said: "I believe that (with) such a great country with great traditions such as Great Britain, Kazakhstan maybe doesn't have any moral right to actually give advice. "But given my huge political experience maybe... monitoring, watching the activities of Mr Cameron, the way he actually protects the interests of the British people all over the world in all areas, I think he will be definitely demanded. Personally I would vote for him." Mr Cameron joked: "That's one, I've just got (to get) about another 20 million and I'm in business." The Prime Minister gave the president a set of commemorative Wimbledon 2013 cufflinks, reflecting Mr Nazarbayev's love of tennis. He received a commemorative coin set and a bound leather book of Kazakh stamps. Kazakhstan is experiencing rapid growth due to its vast oil and mineral reserves. The British Government hopes the business deals signed on this trip will be the start of a surge in trade, which could result in contracts worth £85bn over the coming years |
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