Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kyrgyz Republic Ruslan Kazakbaev met with OSCE Secretary General Helga Maria Schmid on the sidelines of the Diplomatic Forum in Antalya on March 11, 2022.

During conversation, the parties exchanged views on important issues of international agenda, including on situation around Ukraine.

Minister Kazakbaev informed his interlocutor about the impartial position of the Kyrgyz side, voiced by the President of the Kyrgyz Republic S. Zhaparov, and the call for the parties to sit at the negotiating table to resolve the conflict exclusively by diplomatic methods. In this regard, he stressed that the Kyrgyz Republic supports the start of negotiation process between Russia and Ukraine on peaceful settlement of the conflict and welcomes holding of a meeting of the heads of the foreign ministries of the two countries on the sidelines of the Antalya Diplomatic Forum on March 10. He also informed that, if necessary, the Kyrgyz side expresses its readiness to provide its platform and render necessary mediation assistance to establish peace and mutual understanding. The Kyrgyz side noted the importance of avoiding further human casualties and need to find new formats for effective dialogue.

In addition, the Head of the Kyrgyz Foreign Ministry highly appreciated the work organized by OSCE Secretariat to ensure safe temporary evacuation of international staff of OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine (SMMU), including citizens of the Kyrgyz Republic.

Secretary General H. Schmid noted the importance of the work of monitoring group and thanked the Kyrgyz side for its contribution to the work of the SMMU and sending its observers. She also informed about the current and future activities of OSCE in the framework of the Ukrainian crisis on the issues of humanitarian assistance, possible monitoring activities and peacebuilding.

Secretary General H. Schmid welcomed the proposal of the Kyrgyz Republic to resolve the conflict and thanked for the support of OSCE Academy in Bishkek. She noted the need for the Member States of the Organization to comply with the fundamental principles and obligations that lay in its basis.

Regarding bilateral agenda, the parties discussed the current state and prospects for cooperation between the Kyrgyz Republic and OSCE and preparations for the High-Level Conference “30 Years of Cooperation between Central Asia and OSCE” planned for May 2022.