.Russia ready to provide aid to Kyrgyzstan - Karasin.

26/4 Tass 102

BISHKEK, April 26 (Itar-Tass) - Russia is ready to provide aid to
Kyrgyzstan, Russian State Secretary, Deputy Foreign Minister Grigory
Karasin said here on Monday at a meeting with Kyrgyzstan's interim
government head Roza Otunbayeva.
At present, he noted, Kyrgyzstan is going through a very difficult
period after the tragic events of April 6-8. "It is believed in Russia
that this country which is close to us should pass this test worthily,"
Karasin said. "Russia is ready to help, interact, and, most importantly,
has taken all these problems close to heart," he added.
"Our mission is to understand what are the main problems of the
interim government, what are its plans for legitimisation of power
structures, what will be done with the constitution, when the elections
will be held and what nature they will have - presidential or
parliamentary," the RF deputy foreign minister stressed.
Otunbayeva for her part assured Karasin that the current leadership of
Kyrgyzstan "has an 'original roadmap,' which it follows." She stressed
that Bishkek is grateful to Russia "for the support it received" from it.
A series of rioting occurred across Kyrgyzstan in 2010. The riots stem
from growing anger against the government of President Kurmanbek Bakiyev
and the sluggish economy, and follow the government's closure of several
media outlets. Protesters took control of a government office in Talas on
April 6, and on April 7 clashes between protesters and police in the
capital Bishkek turned violent. At least 83 deaths and 500 injuries have
been confirmed.
After the riots, President Bakiyev fled the capital in his private jet
south to Osh, while opposition leaders formed a new interim government led
by former foreign minister Roza Otunbayeva. In his southern home base
Bakiyev supporters turned out in large numbers to show support for him and
demanded his restoration to power. On April 15, a rally in support of
Bakiyev was abruptly stopped due to gunfire from unknown sources. The same
day Bakiyev left the country for Kazakhstan first, and then Belarus. He
consequently, submitted his resignation. Although he has since challenged
that.
On April 20, the Belarusian president, Alexander Lukashenko said his
country had offered Bakiyev and three members of his family "the
protection of our state, and personally of the president." On April 21, in
a statement from Minsk, Bakiyev said he still considers himself the
country's president and pledged to do all he can to return the country to
its "constitutional field." He then upped the ante by saying, "I do not
recognise my resignation. Nine months ago the people of Kyrgyzstan elected
me their president and there is no power that can stop me. Only death can
stop me." He then called on the international community not to support the
interim government. "Everyone must know the bandits who are trying to take
power are the executors of an external force and have no legitimacy. I
call on leaders of the international community: do not set a precedent and
do not recognise this gang as the legitimate authorities." Russia
consequently rejected this assertion on the grounds that he had already
tendered his resignation saying "this document cannot be rejected by a
verbal statement." He also accused the Russians of being annoyed with his
allowing the Manas air base to continue operating for the Americans and
NATO to supply their forces in the Afghan war. On April 23, Bakiyev
backtracked on his vow to return to power, but claimed his resignation is
invalid because the new government is failing to protect his family as was
promised.
With threats to the Manas airbase and its operability by foreign
governments having abated, the interim government said "Kyrgyzstan is
extending by one year the validity of the agreement with the United States
over the Manas transit centre."
On 22 April 2010, it was announced that a constitutional referendum,
in order to reduce presidential powers and "strengthen democracy," would
be held on 27 June 2010; a general elections would then follow on 10
October 2010.
Various states in the region and beyond expressed concern and called
for stability in the country. International bodies like the UN, EU and the
OSCE also made similar calls.
-0-ezh/gor


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