Kyrgyz parliament votes to reject $100 mln from Kazakhstan
BISHKEK. Nov 9 (Interfax) - Kyrgyzstan's parliament has ratified a document repealing the agreement to accept $100 million in assistance from Kazakhstan for Kyrgyzstan's integration into the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU), a parliament spokesperson told Interfax on Thursday.
"The government bill repealing the agreement on [accepting] $100 million in assistance from Kazakhstan intended for provision within the EAEU framework has passed three readings," the spokesperson said.
The motion passed 105-1. The parliament of Kyrgyzstan has 120 members in all.
The original agreement was signed in St. Petersburg on December 26, 2016. Kyrgyzstan was due to receive funds for modernizing and equipping its customs offices and veterinarian, phytosanitary, and sanitary laboratories.
The first tranche of $41 million was supposed to reach Kyrgyzstan this week.
"Considering that Kyrgyzstan has not received the $41 million in aid, the Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties dated May 23, 1969 gives a party the right to cite a substantial breach of a bilateral agreement as grounds for terminating or suspending this agreement," the parliament spokesperson said.
The Kyrgyz government decided to repeal the agreement with Kazakhstan after the latter tightened border-crossing rules for passengers and cargo on October 10 and Kyrgyzstan filed relevant complaints with the WTO and the EAEU.