U.S. senior diplomat to visit Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan
WASHINGTON. Jan 15 (Interfax) - U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs Robert Blake will visit Kyrgyzstan and Turkmenistan on January 15-17.
Blake will meet high-ranking Turkmen official on January 15 "to discuss a full range of bilateral and regional issues including energy cooperation, economic development and international investment in Turkmenistan, human rights, and border and regional security issues," the U.S. Department of State reported.
He will also meet representatives of Turkmenistan's civil society and will give a press conference at the U.S. embassy to Ashgabat, it said.
Blake will travel to Bishkek on January 16 to lead the U.S. delegation for the second U.S.-Kyrgyz Annual Bilateral Consultations, slated for January 17.
"The delegations will discuss all aspects of the U.S.-Kyrgyz Republic bilateral relationship, including regional stability and security, democracy and rule of law, human rights, energy, counternarcotics, education and cultural exchanges, and economic development and trade," the U.S. Department of State reported.
Blake will also meet with representatives from Kyrgyz civil society and give a press conference.