BISHKEK (TCA) — During the past 25 years Switzerland has provided more than CHF 350 million of financial, technical and humanitarian support to Kyrgyzstan in the sectors of health, public institutions, private sector, urban water supply, irrigation, local self-governance and civil society engagement, the Embassy of Switzerland in the Kyrgyz Republic said as the two countries marked the 25th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations on February 14, 2017.
Switzerland has also substantially supported the organization of successful parliamentary and local elections in Kyrgyzstan in 2015 and 2016 respectively, the embassy said.
Switzerland’s cooperation began after Kyrgyzstan became independent and joined the Swiss-led voting group at the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development. This special relationship was one of the reasons Kyrgyzstan became one of the focal partners for Swiss Cooperation in Central Asia.
“The Kyrgyz Republic is Central Asia’s only parliamentary democracy and since independence has undergone significant changes of its own history and development. The Swiss cooperation is proud to be a development partner and is committed to continue its support to the country. Our bilateral relations are based on values and principles such as solidarity, respect of human rights, and democracy, including the participation of civil society actors. Switzerland as a neutral country is always ready to support dialogue and to strive for peaceful solutions of conflicts. There are many similarities between our countries, and we will continue building our relations on our longstanding trust and friendship,” said the Ambassador of Switzerland to the Kyrgyz Republic, René Holenstein.