Kyrgyzstan, NATO sign land transit agreement

BISHKEK - Kyrgyzstan and NATO have signed an agreement on the transit of cargo by land through Kyrgyzstan for the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan, the Foreign Ministry said Wednesday.

The agreement was signed at the NATO summit in Chicago on Tuesday, the Foreign Ministry's press service said.

The ministry believes that the accord "is important for the further development of bilateral cooperation between Kyrgyzstan and NATO in the interests of stabilizing the situation in Afghanistan and ensuring security in Kyrgyzstan and the Central Asian region," it said.

At the signing ceremony, NATO Deputy Secretary General Alexander Vershbow thanked Kyrgyzstan for the support, saying the agreement was an important contribution to stabilizing the situation in Afghanistan.

Kyrgyz Foreign Minister Ruslan Kazakbaev said his country will continue to assist the international community, including NATO, in security, peace, stability and further economic and social development of Afghanistan.

The agreement is yet to be approved by Kyrgyzstan's parliament and president.