Kyrgyz PM thanks Putin for Russia's support for Kyrgyz economy

NOVO-OGARYOVO, July 21 (Itar-Tass) - Kyrgyz Prime Minister Almazbek
Atambayev who held talks with Vladimir Putin on Wednesday thanked the
Russian prime minister for lifting an export duty for petroleum products
earlier this year.
"It was a real New Year gift," he said, adding that thanks to the move
2011 started well for Kyrgyzstan and its economy, which has been growing.
Putin said in turn that the lifting of export duties for petroleum
products hadn't been a gift but an element of support for Kyrgyzstan.
The Russian prime minister said that meetings like the one that was
held on Wednesday provide for an opportunity to see how Russian-Kyrgyz
relations develop.
"The last time we met we outlined major areas for developing our
cooperation: energy, agriculture, scientific-technological and military
cooperation. It's very good that today we have an opportunity to see how
we progress in all these areas," Putin went on to say.
For his part, Almazbek Atambayev told Putin that Kyrgyzstan feels
Russia's support all the time. He said that the Kyrgyz economy was
recovering largely thanks to Russian support. Kyrgyz GDP grew by 5.5
percent in the first six months of 2011.
Atambayev also noted that Kyrgyzstan had received 1,500 tons of barley
from Russia.