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Obama Asks Kyrgyzstan To Expand Cooperation

June 11, 2009

BISHKEK -- U.S. President Barack Obama has written a letter to the Kyrgyz government, expressing his hope for further cooperation between the two nations, RFE/RL's Kyrgyz Service reports.

In the letter, Obama expresses his thanks to the Kyrgyz nation and its leadership for their contribution to efforts to stabilize the situation in nearby Afghanistan.

Kyrgyz Foreign Minister Kadyrbek Sarbaev delivered Obama's letter to President Kurmanbek Bakiev on June 11.

Bakiev's office announced that a group of high-ranking U.S. officials is scheduled to travel to Bishkek soon to discuss bilateral issues.

Sarbaev told journalists after his meeting with Bakiev that Bishkek's official response to Obama's letter would be "based upon Kyrgyzstan's national interests," while also taking into account "current developments in the Central Asian region, particularly in Afghanistan and Pakistan.”

Sarbaev stressed, however, that Bishkek's decision to annul its agreement with the United States for its use of the Manas air base outside Bishkek is irreversible.

In late February, Kyrgyzstan gave the United States six months to wind down its operations at the base, which Washington uses as an air bridge to ferry troops and supplies to Afghanistan.

In a recent letter to Bakiev, Afghan President Hamid Karzai expressed his concern about the end of U.S. operations at the base.

Source: http://www.rferl.org/content/Obama_Asks_Kyrgyzstan_To_Expand_Cooperation/1751860.html

Copyright (c) 2009. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.