Kyrgyz FM Critical of Western Approach to Iran’s N. Issue

TEHRAN (FNA)- Kyrgyz Foreign Minister Ednan Karabayev on Tuesday criticized double-standard approach about Iran’s peaceful nuclear program.

In a meeting with the visiting Iranian Commerce Minister Masoud Mir-Kazemi, he said that such an approach is “illogical”.

Producing nuclear energy is legitimate right of the Islamic Republic and any move or pressure to counter such a right is unacceptable, the Kyrgyz minister added.

He expressed pleasure with the current level of Tehran-Bishkek cooperation and the meeting of the 9th Joint Economic Commission.

He further appreciated participation of Iranian companies in various development projects in his country and called for removing the obstacles in the way of further activation of the Iranian companies in Kyrgyzstan, the Islamic republic news agency reported.

Karabayev then voiced his country’s interest to make use of Iranian ports for transit of Kyrgyz goods.

The Iranian commerce minister called for exchange of trade delegations between the two states.

He urged the Kyrgyz government to facilitate trade and investment activities in the country as well as visa issuance for the Iranian businessmen.

As to the global financial crisis, he called for cooperation among all regional countries in order to counter such a problem.

Mir-Kazemi, heading a delegation, arrived in Bishkek on Monday to attend the 9th session of Iran-Kyrgyzstan Joint Economic Commission.

The two countries signed a memorandum of understanding on economic cooperation during the meeting.

Trade between Iran and Kyrgyzstan currently stands at dlrs 70 million a year.