ASTANA. 29.12.2009. KAZINFORM /Serik Sabekov/ "Kazakhstan negotiates joining the Karachaganak project", Kazakh Prime Minister Karim Massimov has said today at the briefing in Astana. "Concerning the project, the negotiation process between the Kazakh Ministry of Energy, KazMunaiGaz and the other participants is underway now", he noted. Besides, the Head of the Government stressed that the Kazakh Government follows the policy of protecting the national interests in the oil-and-gas field. "We reduced the tax burden in the beginning of 2009 due to the crisis, but we will increase it within the current Tax Code in the nearest future", K.Massimov said.