BISHKEK, KYRGYZSTAN

On 19 November, SRSG Natalia Gherman represented the Secretary-General of the United Nations at the High-Level Forum “Accelerating Reforms for Sustainable Development”, jointly organized by the Government of the Kyrgyz Republic and the Development Partners’ Coordination Council in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan.

The Forum participants examined factors that could accelerate reforms and ensure investments efficiency in priority areas of the development agenda. It was attended by the President Sooronbai Jeenbekov, Speaker of the Parliament Dastanbek Jumabekov, Prime minister Muhammedkalyi Abylgaziev, members of the Government, representatives of international financial institutions and development community, academia, civil society and the private sector.

In her opening remarks SRSG Gherman welcomed the commitment of the Kyrgyz Republic to the 2030 Agenda through mainstreaming the SDGs in its national Sustainable Development Strategy. She also highlighted the importance of an inclusive dialogue and mobilized partnership of the donor community and all sectors of society in Kyrgyzstan on various aspects of the country’s development agenda.

During her encounter with His Excellency President Jeenbekov, the SRSG expressed the Secretary General’s full support on behalf of the United Nations towards the process of comprehensive reforms being implemented in Kyrgyzstan. She welcomed the commitment of the Kyrgyz leadership to work closely with the international partners in both formulation and implementation of inclusive policies for sustainable development in the country.

The SRSG held talks with Deputy Prime-minister Ms. Altynai Omurbekova and First Deputy Foreign Minister of the Kyrgyz Republic Mr. Nuran Niyazaliev, to discuss cooperation of Kyrgyzstan and the United Nations. She informed her interlocutors about the UNRCCA regional preventive agenda in the field of countering terrorism, transboundary water management, expert dialogues, women empowerment and youth engagement in implementing the United Nations’ Youth Strategy and Security Council’s Resolutions on Youth, Peace and Security.