State visit of President Ilham Aliyev in focus of Kyrgyz media

The state visit of President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev to the Kyrgyz Republic received wide coverage in the mass media of this country.

Kyrgyz news agencies, television channels, newspapers and online publications detailed the arrival of the head of the Azerbaijani state, the official welcoming ceremony, talks between Presidents Ilham Aliyev and Sadyr Japarov, the signing of the Treaty on Allied Relations and prospects for further cooperation between the two countries.

The media paid special attention to President Ilham Aliyev’s statement on elevating Azerbaijani-Kyrgyz relations to the level of alliance, his high assessment of Kyrgyzstan’s socio-economic achievements, and his words on the transformation of Azerbaijan and the countries of Central Asia into a single geopolitical and geo-economic region.

Coverage of the state visit began with publications about its upcoming program.

“Vecherniy Bishkek” reported that the visit program includes one-on-one talks between the heads of state and the third meeting of the Interstate Council.

The arrival of President Ilham Aliyev on July 30 at Issyk-Kul International Airport was reported by the Kabar agency, the state newspaper Erkin-Too, UTRK, the ELTR television channel, as well as Kaktus.media, 24.kg, Super.kg and IM.kg.

The Kabar agency noted that the President of Azerbaijan was met by President of Kyrgyzstan Sadyr Japarov. State flags of the two countries were raised on flagpoles, and a guard of honor company was lined up along the carpet path.

Kyrgyz media covered in detail the official welcoming ceremony held at the Rukh-Ordo cultural center in Cholpon-Ata. Kaktus.media headlined President Ilham Aliyev’s greeting to the servicemen: “Salam, asker!”

One of the central themes of the publications was President Ilham Aliyev’s statement on raising relations between Azerbaijan and Kyrgyzstan to the level of allied interaction.

The AKIpress agency headlined the words of the head of the Azerbaijani state: “There is no higher level than this in the world.” The theme of elevating Azerbaijani-Kyrgyz relations to the allied level was also reflected in the headlines of Open.kg, Sputnik Kyrgyzstan and 24.kg.

The Kabar agency, Economist.kg and IM.kg detailed the talks between Presidents Ilham Aliyev and Sadyr Japarov. According to their reports, the sides discussed prospects for expanding cooperation in the spheres of economy, investment, transport, energy, education and other areas.

Kyrgyz publications paid special attention to President Ilham Aliyev’s high assessment of Kyrgyzstan’s achievements. The publications reported that the head of the Azerbaijani state noted the country’s significant progress in socio-economic development, strengthening of economic potential and enhancement of its international prestige. In particular, the newspaper Erkin-Too and the Barakelde portal published materials on the head of the Azerbaijani state’s high assessment of Kyrgyzstan’s development.

The Kabar agency reported on the agreement to double the capital of the Azerbaijan-Kyrgyzstan Development Fund — to 200 million dollars. The publication quoted President Ilham Aliyev as saying that this decision was linked to the effectiveness of projects implemented through the fund, which contribute to the creation of new production facilities and jobs.

One of the key outcomes of the state visit was the signing of the Treaty on Allied Relations between the Kyrgyz Republic and the Republic of Azerbaijan.

The Economist.kg portal reported that the talks resulted in the signing of the Treaty on Allied Relations and 14 other documents.

The signing of bilateral documents was also reported by the Kabar agency, the newspaper Slovo Kyrgyzstana, Tazabek, K-News, Govori.TV, IM.kg, 7th Channel and UTRK.

Kyrgyz media widely covered the ceremony of mutual presentation of the highest state awards of the two countries.

President of Kyrgyzstan Sadyr Japarov presented President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev with the Order of Manas, First Class. The award was given for his significant contribution to the development of strategic partnership between the two states and the strengthening of friendship between the Azerbaijani and Kyrgyz peoples.

In turn, President Ilham Aliyev presented Sadyr Japarov with the Order of Heydar Aliyev, Azerbaijan’s highest state award. The award was given for special merits in the development of friendly, fraternal and partnership ties between the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Kyrgyz Republic.

The award ceremony was covered by Erkin-Too, AKIpress, the Kabar agency, the newspaper Slovo Kyrgyzstana, 24.kg, Vesti.kg, UTRK, 7th Channel, Govori.TV, Koom.press and Report.kg.

24.kg and Vesti.kg devoted separate publications to President Ilham Aliyev’s words on Kyrgyzstan’s contribution to the restoration of Karabakh. The publications paid special attention to the Aykol Manas secondary school built with Kyrgyzstan’s support in the Agdam district. The head of the Azerbaijani state called it another symbol of brotherhood and a monument to the unity of the two peoples, expressing gratitude to Kyrgyzstan for the assistance provided.

The Kabar agency and the 24.kg portal reported that President Ilham Aliyev invited President Sadyr Japarov to pay a state visit to Azerbaijan.

The Kabar agency also quoted the head of the Azerbaijani state as saying that the two countries will continue to support each other on international platforms, develop trade and economic cooperation and cooperation in the field of strengthening security.

Special attention in the publications was paid to President Ilham Aliyev’s statement that Azerbaijan and the countries of Central Asia have become a single geopolitical and geo-economic region.

It was noted that relations with the countries of Central Asia are one of the priorities of Azerbaijan’s foreign policy. Data on mutual visits were also provided, along with the head of state’s words on the intention to continue expanding cooperation with the countries of the region.

Economist.kg, Vesti.kg and Sputnik Kyrgyzstan reported on President Ilham Aliyev’s participation, together with President of the Kyrgyz Republic Sadyr Japarov, President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev and President of the Republic of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon, in the opening of an international-class golf club on Issyk-Kul.

The publications reported that the heads of state made symbolic first strokes on the ball, launching the new golf club. Vesti.kg also noted that the presidents familiarized themselves with the infrastructure of the sports and tourist complex.

The Super.kg portal published video footage of the informal communication of the four presidents on the shore of Issyk-Kul. The footage shows the heads of state freely communicating, taking photos and playing golf.

In publications by Kyrgyz mass media, the state visit of President Ilham Aliyev was presented as an important stage in the development of Azerbaijani-Kyrgyz relations.

The materials listed among the key results of the events already held during the visit the transition of bilateral relations to the allied level, the signing of a package of documents, the expansion of economic cooperation, and the strengthening of fraternal ties between the two peoples.

A separate place in the publications was given to the theme of further strengthening Azerbaijan’s regional interaction with the countries of Central Asia.