Iran’s deputy FM meets new Kyrgyz leader

TEHRAN, May 5 (MNA) – Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Mohammad-Reza Sheibani held talks with the interim leader of Kyrgyzstan on Tuesday in Bishkek.

In his meeting with Kyrgyz interim Prime Minister Roza Otunbayeva, Sheibani said Tehran is ready to help Kyrgyzstan to cope with its problems.

He also condemned foreign interference in the sensitive Central Asia region, saying that increasing cooperation among regional countries is the best way to establish peace and security in the region.

Otunbayeva, for her part, thanked Iran for its humanitarian assistance to Kyrgyzstan and briefed Sheibani on her interim government’s plans to hold a referendum on a revised constitution as well as holding presidential election.

Former Kyrgyz President Kurmanbek Bakiyev was overthrown on April 7 after a bloody uprising in which 85 people were killed. The present interim government is pursing a case against Bakiyev for mass murder and corruption.

Although Bakiyev has taken refuge in Belarus, but charges have been laid against top members of his former government, including some family members. The interim government has offered bounties for their arrest.

Meanwhile, in a separate meeting with Kyrgyzstan’s Foreign Minister Ruslan Kazakbaev, Sheibani also expressed hope that the recent events in Kyrgyzstan would serve its national interests.

Kazakbaev also said his country would like to set up a joint committee in Tehran.