AKIPRESS.COM - On 9 November, the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy/Vice-President of the European Commission, Federica Mogherini, paid a visit to the Kyrgyz Republic and held talks with President Almazbek Atambayev, President-elect Sooronbai Jeenbekov and Prime Minister Sapar Isakov.

The High Representative was awarded the Order of Friendship of the Kyrgyz Republic by President Atambayev, the EU External Action said.

The High Representative/Vice-President's visit took place one month after the decision was taken to start negotiations on a new bilateral agreement between the European Union and Kyrgyzstan. High Representative/Vice-President Mogherini stressed the EU’s full readiness to start the negotiations.

The High Representative/Vice-President discussed with the leaders the Presidential elections that were held recently, which will result in the first constitutional transition of power from one elected President to another in the country. She reiterated the European Union's continued support to the reform processes in the Kyrgyz Republic in this area of electoral reform, as well as in the rule of law and the reform of the judiciary, and highlighted that the recommendations of the OSCE/ODIHR election observation mission should be implemented by the Kyrgyz authorities.

The European Union will also contribute to the sustainable development of the country through development cooperation assistance.

High Representative/Vice-President Mogherini looked ahead to the EU-Central Asia foreign ministers' meeting, which will be held in Samarkand on 10 November. The High Representative/Vice-President will chair the meeting, at which security issues, economic cooperation and the role of the European Union in the region will be discussed. It will also be an opportunity for the High Representative/Vice-President to hear the views of her interlocutors in the region on a new EU Strategy for Central Asia, to be adopted in 2019.