Press release
20 July 2010
Ministry for Foreign Affairs
Sweden to contribute to reinforced EU commitment in Kyrgyzstan
The Government has decided to make staff available to reinforce the EU's commitment in Kyrgyzstan. Helena Vazquez from Sweden has been appointed political adviser to the EU Special Representative (EUSR) for Central Asia, Pierre Morel.
"The international community needs to increase its support to deal with the ongoing crisis and ensure that the democratic transition can continue. Together with others including the OSCE and the UN, the EU has a special role to play in standing up for human rights, the principles of the rule of law and democracy. I am happy that we can contribute Swedish expertise in this concrete way," comments Minister for International Development Cooperation Gunilla Carlsson.
The political and security situation in Kyrgyzstan is still serious following the unrest in April this year. The conflict has claimed a large number of human lives, particularly in southern parts of the country, and has caused major refugee flows towards the border with Uzbekistan.
The EU has approached the Member States with a request for civilian experts to Kyrgyzstan to reinforce the Office of the EU Special Representative for Central Asia for a short period of time. The experts are to help achieve better awareness of the situation following the recent violence.
Helena Vazquez was recruited through EU's Civilian Response Team (CRT), which was established in 2004 at the initiative of Sweden.
Contact
Peter Larsson+46 8 405 10 00
Inger Buxton
Deputy Director, Security Policy Department
08-405 5954
