From: Justin Burke (JBurke@sorosny.org)
Date: Fri Dec 14 2001 - 09:22:24 EST
Kyrgyz president opens international conference against terrorism
Text of report by Kyrgyz news agency Kabar
Bishkek 13 December: Kyrgyz President Askar Akayev has officially opened the
Bishkek international conference "Reinforcing security and stability in
Central Asia: increasing all-round efforts to counteract terrorism", held
under the auspices of the OSCE and the UN.
In his report, the head of state expressed the hope that the forum would not
be just a symbolic one, but a direct continuation of the practical steps
being undertaken by the international community in the fight against
international terrorism, religious extremism and drug trafficking. The
Kyrgyz president went on to draw attention to the fact that no country in
the world was safe from the threats of terrorism, be it military,
psychological or biological terrorism. That is why it is impossible to
fight it without consolidating the efforts of the whole world community.
Askar Akayev also pointed out that Kyrgyzstan had itself experienced the
forces of terror, which it had only been possible to expel with help from
neighbouring countries, Russia, the USA and other friendly countries. As
for the antiterrorist campaign in Afghanistan that was being carried out by
the USA with the support of 20 countries, Askar Akayev underlined that it
met the interests of the Afghan people, as well as those of the Central
Asian countries and the world community. In this connection, the Kyrgyz
president pointed out that Kyrgyzstan had offered its air space for the
delivery of humanitarian consignments to the Afghan people and had signed
an agreement with the USA offering part of Manas airport to the military
forces of America and its partners in the antiterrorist coalition.
About 300 representatives from over 60 countries and international
organizations are attending the two-day conference.
Source: Kabar news agency, Bishkek, in Russian 0553 gmt 13 Dec 01
BBC Mon CAU 131201 kr/ua
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