Statement
by
Mr. Abdyldaev E. Deputy Foreign Minister of
the Kyrgyz Republic
Mr. Chairman,
Distinguished Delegates,
Letf me on behalf of the Kyrgyz delegation welcome you as participants
of the first foreign ministers meeting under the presidency of the Rt.
Hon. Lord Robertson, the new Secretary-General of NATO, and wish him every
success in this high-level post.
Mr. Chairman,
Today's forum is remarkable also in that it takes place after the NATO
anniversary Summit in Washington and the OSCE Summit in Istanbul. These
are undoubtedly historical landmarks in the development of these security
structures and their common strategy to maintain European stability in
the 21st century. The implementation of the decisions of these summits
will take years and will require our firm determination and strict adherence
to our commitments.
Now our Partnership has entered into a practical stage of development,
making it more operational and interactive and we ace pleased to note
that the reports submitted for approval reflect the real progress achieved
in such a short period of time. We are convinced that the introduction
of the OCC will improve cooperation between the Partner Forces and the
Alliance's ability to use them in future PfP operations. We welcome the
PfP Training and Education Enhancement Programme in the belief that, in
the end the human element is the only real driving force for fostering
interoperability.
Mr Chairman,
As you are aware, Kyrgyzstan has recently gone through a crisis with
incursions of terrorist rebels into its sovereign territory. These events
have shown that religious extremism, international terrorism, organised
crime, proliferation of small arms and light weapons and the weaknesses
of Border control systems are real threats to regional security and stability
in Central Asia. It is evident to day that these factors have become a
global phenomenon, which can destabilise conditions in all regions and
parts of the world.
For the successful accomplishment of our reforms in the military sphere,
the implementation of a new defence policy and strategy, basic restructuring
of the army, training, and the creation of a Rapid Reaction Force, we
will need material and technical assistance. We have acute need nowadays
of the support of the international community and its organisations.
The growingfocus of the PfP Programme on practical matters meets the
interests of Kyrgyzstan, which sees this program as a means of promoting
cooperation at a regional level. We are a part of the Central Asian economic
union. This forum has adopted the well-known initiative of creation a
Central-Asian peacekeeping battalion. We think it is high time to find
efficient ways for a practical implementation of this initiative, This
task of creating a regional defence identity is particuiarly topical in
the light of the past crisis in Kyrgyzstan We would welcome any assistance
in this regard within the context of PfP cooperation.
I auld also like to take this opportunity, on behalf of the Republic,
to thank those partner countries who supported our proposal to include
in the 2000-2002 EAPC Action Plan a seminar in Bishkek on regional security
matters.
Thank you for attention
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