Courageous Leadership of Kyrgyz President Bakiyev in Efforts to Fight Terrorism

COURAGEOUS LEADERSHIP OF KYRGYZ PRESIDENT BAKIYEV IN EFFORTS TO FIGHT TERRORISM -- (Extensions of Remarks - October 18, 2005)

* Mr. ROHRABACHER. Mr. Speaker, I wish to bring to the attention of my colleagues the important contribution Kyrgyz Republic President Kurmanbek Bakiyev is making in supporting United States and Coalition Forces in our mission to fight terrorism in Afghanistan.

* U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has just concluded a visit with President Bakiyev in the Kyrgyz Republic's capitol of Bishkek. On October 11, 2005, Secretary Rice and President Bakiyev issued a ``Joint Statement of the United States of America and the Kyrgyz Republic on the Presence of the U.S. Military in the Region.'' I ask that the full statement be placed in the Congressional Record.

* Mr. Speaker, I applaud President Bakiyev's leadership in making this courageous commitment to provide the United States and Coalition Forces access to the Manas air base. This agreement provides certainty at a time when there is great uncertainty in the region. This new U.S.-Kyrgyz agreement follows a statement released July 5, 2005, by the Shanghai Cooperation Organization comprised of China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan, requesting a timetable for U.S. troop withdrawal in the region due to the lessening of operations in Afghanistan. The U.S.-Kyrgyz agreement also comes at a critical time for our military presence in the region, in light of neighboring Uzbekistan's decision to deny the U.S. access to a key military base which has been used for counterterrorism, military and humanitarian missions.

* The United States has a very real and expanding interest in Central Asia. The United States looks forward to working closely with our partner The Kyrgyz Republic to successfully eliminate global terrorism and bring peace and stability to the region.

Department of State,

Washington, DC, October 11, 2005.

JOINT STATEMENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND THE KYRGYZ REPUBLIC ON THE PRESENCE OF THE U.S. MILITARY IN THE REGION

Following is the text of a joint statement issued by the United States of America and the Kyrgyz Republic on the Presence of the U.S. Military in the Region.

Kyrgyzstan understands the need to resolve urgently the military and political situation in Afghanistan, to contain the sources of terrorism and to create peaceful conditions for the social, economic and democratic development of the country.

in this regard, the Government of the Kyrgyz Republic recognizes the important contribution of the international anti-terrorist Coalition, located at the Ganci Airbase, in strengthening regional stability. The Kyrgyz side will continue to take part in these and other joint efforts of the international community to contend with modern-day challenges and threats to security.

We support the presence of Coalition Forces in the Kyrgyz Republic until the mission of fighting terrorism in Afghanistan is completed, a mission supported by the United Nations.

The governments of the United States and the Kyrgyz Republic express their readiness to review the transparency of investments made for the use of the Manas Airport and at the same time to discuss other organizational and technical questions.

Regarding its domestic policy, Kyrgyzstan intends to continue its orientation toward strengthening democratic principles and carrying out a decisive battle against corruption in order to create the necessary conditions for sustainable development.

Adam Ereli,

Deputy Spokesman.

http://thomas.loc.gov