EUSR`s Speech at the Reception held on the occasion of the 34th Anniversary of the Independency of the Kyrgyz Republic
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Excellencies,
Distinguished guests,
Ambassador Mr. Aidit Erkin,
Chief of Protocol of Belgium, Mr. Pierre Cartuyvels,
Ladies and gentlemen,
It is my pleasure to join you today in celebrating the 34th anniversary of the Kyrgyz Republic’s independence. On 31 August 1991, Kyrgyzstan declared its sovereignty, marking the beginning of a new era for its people. Мен сиздерге өз дилден салам жолдойм [Men sizderge öz dilden salam zholdoïm – I send you my heartfelt greetings].
The recent renaming of Jalal-Abad as Manas honours the legendary epic hero who united the 40 tribes, something still reflected in the rays on the Kyrgyz flag. As the Epic of Manas reminds us: “Manas unites those whom time and space divide”, a timeless message of unity and identity.
The European Union and Kyrgyzstan are united in their goal to strengthen their robust partnership, underscored by the Enhanced Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (EPCA), signed in June 2024. It reflects our joint commitment to deepen our mutually beneficial cooperation in areas such as human rights, trade, connectivity, education, and environment issues.
We welcome your engagement in the Human Rights Dialogue (last held in November 2024), reaffirming our shared values of upholding fundamental freedoms, rule of law, and civil society participation.
Since 2016, Kyrgyzstan has benefited from tariff- and quota-free access to the EU market for two-thirds of its products under GSP+, opening more opportunities to diversify exports and strengthen the economy.
Our cooperation also extends to regional infrastructure and green development: the Kambar-Ata-1 hydropower project, the Team Europe Initiative on Water, Energy and Climate Change, and investments under the Global Gateway framework are concrete examples of mutual action.
The EPCA complements the 2019 EU Strategy for Central Asia and the 2023 Joint Roadmap for Deepening Ties. Together they offer a strong framework to address common challenges and seize shared opportunities. In this spirit, the EU welcomes the final border agreement between Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan, a major step toward peaceful resolution and regional stability. We stand ready to support its implementation.
Following the recent Ministerial meeting in Ashgabat, and the first EU-Central Asia Summit in Samarkand in April 2025, which included discussions on investment, transport, and critical raw materials, the €12 billion Global Gateway Investment Package underlines our joint resolve to build tangible infrastructure, strengthen connectivity, and foster people-to-people links.
Looking ahead, the upcoming Global Gateway Forum and the Jumbo Ministerial meeting will offer excellent opportunities to advance our partnership further.
And like in every partnership, “there will be winter, there will be cold, there will be snowstorms, but then there will be spring… Again...”, to quote the famous Kyrgyz author and Kyrgyzstan’s former Ambassador to the EU, Chyngyz Aitmatov.
In closing, I express my deep respect and admiration for the Kyrgyz people and their enduring spirit. We eagerly await many more years of partnership and shared progress, and I look forward, with great anticipation, to my upcoming trip to your beautiful country next month.
"Чоң рахмат (Choñ rakhmat – Thank you very much)!