Russia is Kyrgyzstan's main strategic partner -- President Bakiyev

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10/7 Tass 103

MOSCOW, July 10 (Itar-Tass) -- Russia is Kyrgyzstan's main strategic
partner, including in security issues, Kyrgyz President Kurmanbek Bakiyev
stated in the interview published in the Izvestia newspaper on Friday.
A document was signed recently with the Russian side on the
prolongation of the Russian base presence in Kant for 49 years on the most
favorable terms, he noted.
"We are active partners of Russia in the CSTO, EurAsEC and SCO. One
cannot say that all the decisions in the organisations are taken easily
and smoothly, but we are united by the striving to find common accord and
the realization of mutual dependence and responsibility for the future of
our countries," Bakiyev said.
Great hopes are connected with the future of the Eurasian Economic
Community (EurAsEC), members of which are six CIS countries -- Belarus,
Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.
"Let us take at least the fact that a decision unprecedented in the
community history was taken at the Moscow summit to establish a joint fund
with capital of ten billion U.S. dollars," he added.
Certainly, the fund with a many-billion sum was set up not due to good
life. The step is aimed first of all at minimising world crisis
consequences for community member countries. The anti-crisis fund also may
serve as an effective instrument of counteraction against negative factors
in the economy and finances of EurAsEC member states, he noted.
Regrettably, the work is slow to form the Customs Union within the
EurAsEC. It is understandable that it is a long and tiring process that
requires serious work over and a responsible approach.
The work on the issue is under way for the present on the level of
three states -- Belarus, Kazakhstan and Russia, with the possibility for
the other community members -- Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan -- to
join the union later.
Fundamentals are also being formed for the legal basis in the zone of
the EurAsEC Common Economic Space.
Thus, the countries slowly, but surely are moving toward consolidation
of international partnership in the CIS space, the president stressed.
When asked about the Manas American base, which actually remains in
Kyrgyzstan, but under another signboard, as the Izvestia noted, Bakiyev
said: "Our position with regard to the base has been and remains maximum
clear... We do not in any measure violate the agreements with Russia,
which was, is and will be our main strategic partner -- it is formed
historically, and it is the people's will," he stressed, adding: "Our
strategic partnership and common interest in fight against international
terrorism were confirmed also by Russia's President Dmitry Medvedev."
"By deploying the (American) base in our territory, we thus have
declared our will to become consistent participants in the fight against
international terrorism and extremism. But three blocks of unsettled
problems connected with base functioning were left. The first block is
security of own citizens, which is an unconditional priority for any
country. The second block is ecological security in the region of the base
deployment. And finally the third block is economic expediency. The new
agreements on the centre for transit transportation to a considerable
extent remove the problems," he said.
The Kyrgyz leader believes the ideology of international partnership
must be a cornerstone of a foreign policy. In this connection, speaking
about the Manas base, he noted that he considered the achieved agreement
in the negations as proof of the possibility and, the main, productivity
of transition from opposition to partnership, Bakiyev said, adding "And of
course, a particular place and importance in our policy is given to
Russia."
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