Brussels, 16/11/2010 (Agence Europe) - Andris Piebalgs is currently visiting Central Asia for the first time as European Development Commissioner. In Uzbekistan (15-16 November), his conversations with President Islam Karimov, Deputy Prime Minister Elyor Ganiev and Foreign Minister Vladimir Norov focused on EU support for the country's modernisation reform. Piebalgs was due thereafter to travel to Kyrgyzstan (16-17 November). Stabilisation of the country will be at the heart of his discussions with President Rosa Otunbayeva, Deputy Prime Minister Jantoro Satybaldiyev, Foreign Minister Ruslan Kazakbaev and Finance Minister Chorobek Ismashev. The commissioner will sign a €2 million financing agreement for the improvement the information system on Kyrgyzstan's food security. In 2007, a strategy was adopted that was supposed to bring a new partnership between the EU and Central Asia. (A.N./transl.rt)