Italy interested in expanding inter-parliamentary co-op with Kyrgyzstan

Bishkek, Nov. 10, 2021 . / Kabar / . A meeting was held between Kyrgyzstan’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and Investment Ruslan Kazakbaev and President of the Senate of Italy Maria Elisabetta Alberti Casellati. The Kyrgyz Foreign Ministry’s press service said that the meeting took place as part of Kazakbaev’s official visit to Italy. During the meeting, the head of the Senate expressed interest in expanding inter-parliamentary cooperation with Kyrgyzstan and thanked the Kyrgyz side for opening an Embassy in Rome. Kazakbaev also informed the Italian side about the preparation to the upcoming parliamentary elections in Kyrgyzstan, and emphasized the strong determination and strict commitment of the country's leadership to conduct a democratic, fair and open electoral process. The Kyrgyz minister invited the Italian side to send its delegation for participation in the elections as international observers. Besides, Ruslan Kazakbaev and Maria Elisabetta Alberti Casellati discussed issues of enhancing cooperation between the parliaments of Kyrgyzstan and Italy and organization of mutual visits in 2022. “The foreign minister of Kyrgyzstan noted the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Kyrgyzstan and Italy will be celebrated in March 2022, in connection with which he invited the head of the Italian Senate to visit Kyrgyzstan for an official visit. In turn, Maria Elisabetta Alberti Casellati noted the importance of active involvement of parliamentarians in the development of bilateral agenda of Kyrgyzstan and Italy and wished the success of the parliamentary elections. As a result, the sides agreed to start working on the establishment of a “Kyrgyzstan-Italy” separate parliamentary friendship group in the Italian Senate, which will work closely with the new composition of the Kyrgyz parliamentarians.