U.S. Senate Passes Kerry-Lugar Resolution On Kyrgyzstan
WASHINGTON, D.C. – In response to the crisis in southern Kyrgyzstan, Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman John Kerry (D-MA) and Ranking Member Dick Lugar (R-IN) today issued the following statements announcing the Senate’s unanimous passage of a resolution calling for all parties to refrain from violence and attend to the civilians who have been displaced or injured.
"We are saddened by the tragic loss of life in Kyrgyzstan and the displacement of hundreds of thousands of people from their homes,” said Chairman Kerry. “The immediate priority must be to ensure humanitarian access and safety for civilians. But only a durable political settlement will ease the tensions that divide Kyrgyz society and threaten the stability of the region. The United States stands ready to assist the Provisional Government of Kyrgyzstan as it moves to restore order and the rule of law.”
“The recent upheavals in Kyrgyzstan threaten regional stability and could impact U.S. interests throughout Central Asia, including non-proliferation, counternarcotics, and energy security,” stated Ranking Member Lugar. “Given Kyrgyzstan’s position as a key U.S. military transit center, comprehensive U.S. engagement will ensure that supply efforts to U.S. and NATO forces in Afghanistan continue with minimal disruption. The United States should work closely with our regional partners and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe in addressing the pressing humanitarian and institutional challenges present in Kyrgyzstan today.”
The full text of the resolution is attached.
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