Kyrgyzstan, EU sign enhanced cooperation agreement
BISHKEK. June 25 (Interfax) - Kyrgyzstan and the European Union have signed the Enhanced Partnership and Cooperation Agreement, the Kyrgyz presidential press service said on Tuesday.
"The signing ceremony of the Enhanced Partnership and Cooperation Agreement between Kyrgyzstan and the EU took place in Brussels as part of Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov's working visit," the press service said.
The ceremony took place in the presence of Japarov and European Council President Charles Michel. Kyrgyz Foreign Minister Jeenbek Kulubayev and High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell signed the document.
Later on Tuesday, the European External Action Service (EEAS) released a statement quoting Borrell as saying that the EU is "happy to count the Kyrgyz Republic amongst our close partners."
"The Enhanced Partnership and Cooperation Agreement demonstrates our steadfast commitment to strengthening and deepening our bilateral relations based on shared values and common interests in all areas of mutual benefit, reflecting new geopolitical and economic realities," Borrell said.
The EU will "continue working with Kyrgyzstan on further strengthening the protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms and promote cooperation with civil society which are essential pillars of an open democratic society," he said.
The EEAS described the signing of the agreement as "an important milestone in the strengthening bilateral relations." "The agreement will provide a new legal basis for reinforced political dialogue and deepening cooperation in many mutually beneficial areas," the EEAS said in the statement.
In particular, the EEAS referred to such areas as trade and investment, sustainable development and connectivity, research and innovation, education, environment and climate change, as well as rule of law, human rights and civil society.
The EU expects this agreement to enable "the strengthening of cooperation in the area of foreign and security policy, including issues of conflict prevention and crisis management, risk reduction, cybersecurity, regional stability, disarmament, non-proliferation, arms control and export control."
"The Enhanced Partnership and Cooperation Agreement will create opportunities for cooperation in new areas, such as critical raw materials essential for green and digital transitions," the statement said.
Kyrgyzstan and the EU started talks on the new agreement in 2017. The parties initialed the new agreement on cooperation in July 2019.
According to the Kyrgyz Foreign Ministry, the document will replace the existing partnership and cooperation agreement in effect since 1999. The new agreement focuses on political cooperation, commercial and investment relations, economic cooperation and other aspects of bilateral relations.
