NATO Headquarters 9 Dec. 2004

Statement by H.E. Mr. Erkin Mamkulov, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kyrgyz Republic EAPC Foreign Ministers Meeting News 08/12/2004 - NATO NATO Foreign Ministers meet in Brussels Events Programme of the Foreign Ministers meeting at NATO HQ on 8 and 9 December 2004 Mr. Chairman, Kyrgyz Republic welcomes the creation of institute of the NATO General Secretary's Special Representative for Central Asia and Caucasus as follow up of the decisions taken at Istanbul Summit, especially on Refocusing and Renewal of Euro Atlantic Partnership with focus on Central Asia and Caucasus regions. Military-political situation is still volatile in Central Asian region. Today a number of complicated trans-boundary problems in the region (terrorism, illegal drugs and arms trafficking, organized crime, poverty, trafficking in human beings, etc.) represent a fertile ground for the international terrorism. We try to resolve these problems through cooperation within the framework of such regional organizations as the CIS, Shanghai Cooperation Organisation and Collective Security Treaty Organisation. In this regard we support the idea of developing cooperation between the NATO and Collective Security Treaty Organisation. Now the Kyrgyz Government from its side is elaborating cooperation frameworks within ISAF. The appropriate proposals have been passed over to the NATO Secretariat for consideration. Mr. Chairman, We consider border control and security related issues as of extreme priority of international cooperation in the nearest and medium term prospects. Kyrgyzstan needs international support in this sphere, keeping in mind that border control and security related issues are inseparably linked with the obligations taken by my country within the Nuclear Weapons Non-Proliferation Agreement. In this context I would like to suggest that PfP Trust Fund policy could possibly include questions of border control and security. If that would be the case I believe it will be a good contribution of the Trust Fund mechanism to the joint efforts for practical implementation of the Program of Actions Against Terrorism. Mr. Chairman, The ongoing terrorist activity makes us think to enhance cooperative efforts in the joint fight against terrorism. In this regard we would like to draw your attention to the following offers: Firstly, to conduct NATO-led regional military-tactical exercises and trainings in our region with more active participation of partner forces that will promote better efficiency in implementation of the interoperability capabilities. Secondly, to raise interoperability level we would like to suggest that special NATO familiarization courses on interoperability and PARP related issues in Bishkek be conducted. Mr. Chairman, In conclusion I would like to recall that during your visit to Bishkek in October this year we suggested that next Security Forum in the format of foreign ministers be hosted in my country in 2006. I confirm this offer and ask kind support of delegations to positively consider it. I believe it would be a logic step in our joint efforts to implement a key task regarding Refocusing and Renewal of Euro Atlantic Partnership. The existing number of specific trans-boundary problems in Central Asia region might be considered as basic items on the agenda of a would-be Bishkek Security Forum in 2006. Thank you for your attention.