On November 9, the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy/Vice-President of the European Commission, Federica Mogherini, paid a visit to Kyrgyzstan and held talks with outgoing President Almazbek Atambayev, President-elect Sooronbai Jeenbekov and Prime Minister Sapar Isakov. She was also awarded the Order of Friendship of the Kyrgyz Republic by President Atambayev for her contribution to the development of EU-Kyrgyzstan cooperation.
The EU High Representative/Vice-President’s visit took place one month after the decision was taken to start negotiations on a new bilateral agreement between the European Union and Kyrgyzstan. Mogherini stressed the EU’s full readiness to start the negotiations, according to a statement issued by her office.
She reiterated the European Union’s continued support to the reform processes in the Kyrgyz Republic in the area of electoral reform, as well as in the rule of law and the reform of the judiciary. The European Union will also contribute to the sustainable development of the country through development cooperation assistance, the statement said.
A new “ambitious and comprehensive” agreement between the European Union and Kyrgyzstan is to replace one that was adopted in 1999, RFE/RL reported. The EU and neighboring Kazakhstan concluded a new agreement last year. Both Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan have close ties to Moscow and are members of the Eurasian Economic Union, a grouping of ex-Soviet republics that is dominated by founding members Russia, Kazakhstan, and Belarus.
