Russian, Kyrgyz presidents to meet in Moscow

Kyrgyz President Almazbek Atambayev will meet with his Russian counterpart Dmitry Medvedev on Friday, the Kremlin reported. Atambayev, who assumed office on December 1, 2011, arrived on a three-day visit to Russia on February 23 on an invitation from Medvedev. “During the top-level talks, primary attention will be paid to further expansion of trade and economic ties between Russia and Kyrgyzstan,” the Kremlin said in a statement. The first meeting between the new Kyrgyz leader and Medvedev took place in late December 2011, when Atambayev attended meetings of regional organizations - the Council of the CIS Heads of State, the Inter-State Council of the Eurasian Economic Community (Eurasec) and the Collective Security Treaty Organization’s council - in Moscow. Bilateral trade in 2011 grew 5 percent year on year to $1.5 billion. Russia’s exports accounted for $1.2 billion, and imports for about $300 million. The Kremlin said the countries have a good potential for cooperation in the power industry as well as the oil and gas sphere. The sides are also expected to discuss bilateral ties in education, culture, science and human rights.