Brussels, 17/07/2001 (Agence Europe) - The EU/Kyrgyzstan and EU/Kazakhstan Cooperation Councils met in Brussels on Tuesday. The Kyrgyzstan delegation was headed by Deputy Prime Minister Nikolay Tanaev and the delegation from Kazakhstan by Agriculture Minister Akhmetzhan Yesimov. The EU was represented by the ministerial Troika, headed by Belgian Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Annemie Neyts-Uyttebroeck. According to the two countries, the main message from the EU was that respect of human rights and basic democratic principles (freedom of the press, respect of opposition rights, etc.) are indispensable elements for allowing strengthened relations with the EU, but also for attracting the necessary foreign investment to ensure economic development.
In a joint press release issued after the meetings, the EU congratulated Kazakhstan for its "strong economic growth" recorded over the years 2000 and 2001, already partially linked to a rise in foreign direct investment. Kazakhstan, for its part, called for the European market to be opened up to its fishing products, meat and steel. Regarding Kyrgyzstan, the EU recalled that investors are still waiting for improvements in the tax legislation and strengthened rule of law before making further commitments in this country. The two Cooperation Council s also insisted on the importance of fighting organised crime and drugs trafficking. Kyrgyzstan has become a transit country for drugs from Afghanistan and Pakistan towards Europe. Through the TACIS programme, the EU already gives aid to the countries of the region to combat this scourge. Thus, the EU appointed in January this year a regional coordinator (based in Kazakhstan) to manage European aid and to help the countries of the region in their fight.