President discusses with Special Rep of UN Secretary-General for Central Asia co-op issues

Bishkek, March 30, 2021 . / Kabar / . Kyrgyz President Sadyr Zhaparov received on Tuesday Special Representative of UN Secretary-General for Central Asia, Head of the UN Regional Center for Preventive Diplomacy for Central Asia (UNRCCA) Natalia Gherman. The press service of the Kyrgyz president reported that the sides discussed topical areas of joint cooperation and exchanged views on socio-political processes and the epidemiological situation in the country. The head of state expressed gratitude to the UN system for its assistance to Kyrgyzstan in various projects and programs. Sadyr Zhaparov emphasized that today the situation in Kyrgyzstan is stable, preparations to the referendum on the adoption of a new version of the Constitution are underway. He expressed confidence in successful overcoming of this period with support of international partners and thanked the UN institutions for assistance in conducting election processes in the country. Noting the negative impact of the pandemic on the socio-economic situation in the country, the Kyrgyz leader expressed hope for UN support in combating the disease and its consequences. In turn, Natalia Gherman emphasized that UN Secretary-General António Guterres is following very closely the developments in the Central Asian region and, in particular, in Kyrgyzstan. She congratulated the Kyrgyz side for successfully conduct, together with international partners, a well-coordinated humanitarian operation to return to the homeland 79 children from Iraq, who involuntarily ended up abroad. According to Natalia Gherman, a counterterrorism campaign called "Counter-terrorism Week in New York" is planned for this summer, where the successful experience of Kyrgyzstan in repatriation of its citizens will be widely covered. The Special Representative of the UN Secretary General expressed her hope that the upcoming election processes in the country will be held in an atmosphere of openness and transparency with the participation of all segments of the population. In addition, she noted her readiness to provide expert assistance in conducting an inventory of national legislation, cooperation in the framework of vaccination of the population against coronavirus infection and suggested considering the possibility of establishing a joint council between Kyrgyzstan and the UN on human rights.