Kyrgyz PM says no reasons for U.S. sanctions

BISHKEK. July 20 (Interfax) - Kyrgyzstan sees no preconditions for the United States to impose economic restrictions on the country for supposedly exporting sanctioned goods to Russia, Kyrgyz Prime Minister Akylbek Japarov told Interfax on Thursday.

"We shouldn't be worried about some restrictions. All the necessary preventative measures have been taken to make sure that sanctioned goods do not cross our border and do not go where there are sanctions," Japarov said in commenting on reports that the U.S. could impose sanctions on Kyrgyzstan over possible shipments of sanctioned goods via its territory to Russia.

Kyrgyzstan has repeatedly discussed growing exports and the likelihood of Kyrgyzstan's bypassing the sanctions with Western delegations, he said.

"Due to the transparent passage of goods across the border, the real information on exports and the receipt of funds has become available. We are working in the right direction: the tracking of goods has become transparent, and therefore, I am urging businesses to claim electronic invoices to be able to uncover an undeclared shipment, if that happens," Japarov said.

The Kyrgyz State Committee for National Security said none of the country's government agencies or companies are responsible for breaching the Russia sanctions imposed by the U.S. and Western countries.

"Neither the Kyrgyz state nor any government agencies or companies are responsible for violating the sanction restrictions imposed on Russia by the U.S. and Western countries," the committee said.

The committee admits the possibility that some private companies and firms might have been responsible for breaching sanction restrictions in the course of their business operations.

"The Kyrgyz State Committee for National Security has started a relevant inquiry and investigation to uncover and curb such activities. Kyrgyzstan strictly adheres to the corresponding international norms and regulations," it said.