EU concerned over situation in Kyrgyzstan, ready to help - Ashton.

17/5 Tass 127

BISHKEK, May 17 (Itar-Tass) - The European Union is concerned over
deterioration in Kyrgyzstan and is ready to help it stabilise the
situation, EU's High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security
Policy Catherine Ashton said in a statement circulated here on Monday.
She called on all "political actors" in Kyrgyzstan to refrain from
violence or illegal methods in the interests of national stability and
urged to spare no effort to stabilize the situation and prevent its
further escalation.
"I am convinced that, in the present situation, there is no
alternative to the way chosen by the provisional government to return to
full constitutional order in the country," she said.
She also said all political forces in the republic should focus on
finalising the draft constitution, bringing it to popular vote in a
referendum and holding fair and transparent elections.
According to Ashton, the European Union is ready to render all
possible assistance to Kyrgyzstan in this issue.
The European Union has repeatedly said it was ready to help Kyrgyzstan'
s interim government stabilise the situation after the April unrest.
On Saturday, head of France's delegation to the OSCE Parliamentary
Assembly Michel Voisin told the Trans-Asian Parliamentary Forum that the
European Union would allocate 51 million U.S. dollars to finance reforming
Kyrgyzstan's legal and educational systems till the year 2013.
In late April, EU ambassador to Kyrgyzstan Chantal Hebberecht said at
a meeting with deputy head of Kyrgyzstan's interim government and acting
finance minister Temir Sariyev that the European Union would allocate 12
million euros in two tranches to the republic. The first tranche of seven
million euros will be granted in June-July 2010, and the second tranche of
five million euros - in October-November 2010, she said. She also said the
European Union would continue to render financial assistance to the
Central Asian republic in 2011.
-0-ras/gor