AKIPRESS.COM - The U.S. Embassy in Kyrgyzstan commented on July 22 the unilateral denunciation of the Agreement between the Government of the Kyrgyz Republic and the Government of the United States of America Regarding Cooperation to Facilitate the Provision of Assistance signed on 19 May 1993 in Washington.

The statement goes as follows:

"We are disappointed to see the government’s statement renouncing the 1993 Bilateral Agreement because of our long, deep, and mutually beneficial partnership with Kyrgyzstan. The United States was one of the first countries to recognize Kyrgyzstan’s independence and has provided nearly $2 billion in assistance since then in the spirit of partnership and to support and strengthen Kyrgyzstan’s democratic transition.

The Government of Kyrgyzstan has cited its concerns about the State Department’s Human Rights Defender award as its reason for taking this action. At times, we disagree, as we clearly have on this issue, but it is our ability to talk about our differences of opinion that have made the relationship strong.

The 1993 agreement is the legal framework through which the United States facilitates humanitarian and technical economic assistance in Kyrgyzstan. We are studying the technical impact of this decision, which could put assistance programs that benefit the Kyrgyzstani people in jeopardy, including programs to address violent extremism, increase economic growth and job creation, improve the educational system, and support the continued democratic development of Kyrgyzstan. We will continue to engage with and support the people of Kyrgyzstan."