Kyrgyzstan seeks stabilisation in Afghanistan - Bakiyev.

10/3 Tass 132

BISHKEK, March 10 (Itar-Tass) - Kyrgyzstan is interested in the
stabilisation of the situation in Afghanistan and will take further
efforts together with the world community towards peace restoration in
Afghanistan, Kyrgyz President Kurmanbek Bakiyev said at the meeting with
General David Petraeus, the chief of the U.S. Central Command, on
Wednesday.
Major challenges and threats to Central Asia's security emanate from
Afghanistan, he said. Bishkek is interested in "ensuring security and
stability in that country and will continue efforts together with the
world community towards restoration in Afghanistan."
Petraeus, in turn, assured the Kyrgyz president that the United States
attaches great importance to the cooperation with Kyrgyzstan and highly
appreciates the existing partnership relations between the countries, the
press service of the president's secretariat told Itar-Tass.
The commander also expressed gratitude to Bakiyev for Kyrgyzstani
support for the U.S.-led operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan.
Moreover, he informed Bakiyev on the situation in Afghanistan and the
social and economic measures that the U.S. takes to ensure peace and
stability in this country.
Bakiyev and Petraeus "discussed prospects for Kyrgyz-U.S. cooperation
in the areas of mutual interest," the press service said.
The U.S. airbase was set up in December 2001 in Manas as part of the
global war on terror. Last summer after continuing consultations between
Bishkek and Washington the airbase was renamed into the transit centre.
According to different sources, around 35,000 coalition forces use
this transit route to Afghanistan every year.

-0-isk/kud