[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 151 (2005), Part 17]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 23073-23074]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




 COURAGEOUS LEADERSHIP OF KYRGYZ PRESIDENT BAKIYEV IN EFFORTS TO FIGHT 
                               TERRORISM

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. DANA ROHRABACHER

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, October 18, 2005

  Mr. ROHRABACHER. Mr. Speaker, I wish to bring to the attention of my 
colleagues the important contribution Kyrgyz Republic President 
Kurmanbek Bakiyev is making in supporting United States and Coalition 
Forces in our mission to fight terrorism in Afghanistan.
  U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has just concluded a visit 
with President Bakiyev in the Kyrgyz Republic's capitol of Bishkek. On 
October 11, 2005, Secretary Rice and President Bakiyev issued a ``Joint 
Statement of the United States of America and the Kyrgyz Republic on 
the Presence of the U.S. Military in the Region.'' I ask that the full 
statement be placed in the Congressional Record.
  Mr. Speaker, I applaud President Bakiyev's leadership in making this 
courageous commitment to provide the United States and Coalition Forces 
access to the Manas air base. This agreement provides certainty at a 
time when there is great uncertainty in the region. This new U.S.-
Kyrgyz agreement follows a statement released July 5, 2005, by the 
Shanghai Cooperation Organization comprised of China, Russia, 
Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan, requesting a 
timetable for U.S. troop withdrawal in the region due to the lessening 
of operations in Afghanistan. The U.S.-Kyrgyz agreement also comes at a 
critical time for our military presence in the region, in light of 
neighboring Uzbekistan's decision to deny the U.S. access to a key 
military base which has been used for coun-
terterrorism, military and humanitarian missions.
  The United States has a very real and expanding interest in Central 
Asia. The United States looks forward to working closely with our 
partner The Kyrgyz Republic to successfully eliminate global terrorism 
and bring peace and stability to the region.

                                          Department of State,

                                 Washington, DC, October 11, 2005.

Joint Statement of the United States of America and the Kyrgyz Republic 
           on the Presence of the U.S. Military in the Region

       Following is the text of a joint statement issued by the 
     United States of America and

[[Page 23074]]

     the Kyrgyz Republic on the Presence of the U.S. Military in 
     the Region.
       Kyrgyzstan understands the need to resolve urgently the 
     military and political situation in Afghanistan, to contain 
     the sources of terrorism and to create peaceful conditions 
     for the social, economic and democratic development of the 
     country.
       in this regard, the Government of the Kyrgyz Republic 
     recognizes the important contribution of the international 
     anti-terrorist Coalition, located at the Ganci Airbase, in 
     strengthening regional stability. The Kyrgyz side will 
     continue to take part in these and other joint efforts of the 
     international community to contend with modern-day challenges 
     and threats to security.
       We support the presence of Coalition Forces in the Kyrgyz 
     Republic until the mission of fighting terrorism in 
     Afghanistan is completed, a mission supported by the United 
     Nations.
       The governments of the United States and the Kyrgyz 
     Republic express their readiness to review the transparency 
     of investments made for the use of the Manas Airport and at 
     the same time to discuss other organizational and technical 
     questions.
       Regarding its domestic policy, Kyrgyzstan intends to 
     continue its orientation toward strengthening democratic 
     principles and carrying out a decisive battle against 
     corruption in order to create the necessary conditions for 
     sustainable development.
                                                       Adam Ereli,
     Deputy Spokesman.

                          ____________________