Kyrgyz leader offers idle plants to Russia in return for debts
ITAR-TASS news agency
8 May 05
Moscow, 8 May: Russian President Vladimir Putin has met acting Kyrgyz
President [and Prime Minister] Kurmanbek Bakiyev.
The Russian president thanked the guest for coming for the celebrations
of the 60th anniversary of Victory Day. “It is our common holiday. We
all, the CIS leaders, note this and it is very pleasing to me that
you are representing the Kyrgyz people at the celebrations,” the
Russian president said.
Bakiyev suggested discussing first of all economic issues at the
meeting. “We should discuss the issues that are above all very
important for the economy,” Bakiyev said.
He suggested “once again returning” to the discussion of issues
concerning Kyrgyz industrial enterprises which, he said, were
standing idle.
“I will probably prepare the list of enterprises if you agree,”
Bakiyev said, having in mind the transfer of a number of Kyrgyz
enterprises to Russia to pay off its debt.
“We had a similar agreement with Armenia, too,” Putin said.
In Bakiyev’s view, this is “very important for the Kyrgyz economy”
since these enterprises are “not being used”.
Putin also said that the work of the Russian-Kyrgyz intergovernmental
commission should be stepped up.