Embassy Highlights
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American Band Performs in Kyrgyzstan "Sirocco" band pictured with CAO Michael Rosenthal (front-right)" | On November 12-18, the American band "Sirocco" from Texas, U.S.A, performs in Kyrgyzstan with support from the U.S. Embassy in Kyrgyzstan and the Transit Center at Manas. Comprised of U.S. Air Force members, the "Sirocco” band performs rock, pop, jazz, R&B, and country music. The musicians performed at the Abdraev Boarding School of Music, the Kyrgyz-Russian Slavic University, the “Seitek” Center for Children and Youth, and the Sports Palace in Bishkek, as well as at the House of Culture in Tokmok. All concerts were free and open to the public. more... |
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Latest Headlines |
 | Business Seminar Promotes Economic Cooperation between the United States and Kyrgyzstan On November 10, 2009, Ambassador Gfoeller and Maxim Bakiev, director of the newly-established Kyrgyz Central Agency for Development, Investment, and Innovation, welcomed participants in the “Doing Business with the United States of America” seminar at the Hyatt Regency Bishkek. The seminar organized by the U.S. Embassy and the U.S. Department of Commerce provided insights to Kyrgyz companies on marketing principles and focused on the expansion of business relations between Kyrgyzstan and the United States. "When I meet with Kyrgyz people throughout the country, they are very interested in finding ways to do more business with the United States. So today we are here to help you, Kyrgyzstan’s business leaders, do just that." |
 | U.S. Delegation Visited the Kyrgyz Republic Ambassador George Krol, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs, led a U.S. delegation that visited Kyrgyzstan October 26 – 28, 2009. During the visit, the delegation met with Prime Minister Usenov, Foreign Minister Sarbayev and Head of the Presidential Secretariat Malevanaya. The delegation also traveled to the south of the country, including to Osh, Dostyk, Khorshob, and Uzgen. The visit confirms the deepening of the bilateral dialogue between the U.S. and Kyrgyzstan on a broad array of issues. more... |
 | U.S. Embassy Supported the Construction of the Kyrgyz Special Forces Compound On October 23, Ambassador Tatiana Gfoeller and Deputy Minister of Defense of the Kyrgyz Republic Askarbek Japarov participated in the opening of a new compound for Kyrgyz Special Forces ("Scorpions" Battalion). This $9 million compound provides the officers, sergeants, and soldiers of the Battalion with modern living and working conditions. “This Special Forces Compound, which we are opening today, represents our ongoing commitment to the security of an independent Kyrgyzstan,” Ambassador Gfoeller said at the opening ceremony. ambassador's remarks |
 | Ambassador Speaks at Kyrgyz-U.S. Business Seminar On October 15, Ambassador Tatiana C. Gfoeller spoke at the Manas Transit Center's Kyrgyz-U.S. Business Seminar. The seminar focused on procedures for bidding on and obtaining contracts with the U.S. government, including contracts with the Transit Center at Manas and with the U.S. military in Afghanistan. ambassador's remarks |
| U.S. Embassy Constructs Surgical Wing at Military Hospital On October 14, Ambassador Tatiana C. Gfoeller cut the ribbon on a new surgical wing at the Military Hospital in Besh-Kungei, Kyrgyzstan. The U.S. Embassy's Office of Military Cooperation built the new surgical wing, which will provide medical care to Kyrgyzstan's service members and their families, at a cost of $2 million. The Office of Military Cooperation plans to continue its support of the hospital by donating equipment and expanding training opportunities for the hospital's staff. ambassador's remarks |
 Chargé d’Affaires Memmott and Major General Isaev, First Deputy Minister of Interior Affairs, inspect the donated equipment .
| U.S. Embassy Donates Vehicles and Equipment to the Interior Forces On October 7, 2009, at a ceremony held at the Interior Forces Headquarters, the U.S. Embassy's Office of Military Cooperation donated five vehicles and a variety of other military equipment to the Interior Forces. The donated equipment included 150 sets of body armor and other tactical equipment used by the elite U.S. Special Forces. The equipment is intended to assist the Interior Forces in counterterrorism operations.
Larry Memmott, the Chargé d’Affaires of the U.S. Embassy, participated in the ceremony, saying "These vehicles, and this equipment, which we are transferring to the Interior Forces of Kyrgyzstan today, represent our ongoing commitment to security in Kyrgyzstan." |

| American "Falcon" band in Kyrgyzstan September 25-28, the popular "Falcon" band from Nebraska, U.S.A, performed in Kyrgyzstan with support from the Transit Center at Manas and the U.S. Embassy in Kyrgyzstan. Comprised of ten U.S. Air Force members, the "Falcon” band performs rock, pop, jazz, and other popular styles. The musicians performed at the House of Culture in Kara-Balta, a Bishkek boarding school for blind and visually-impaired children, and at the Kyrgyz National University, and took part in the Third Annual Student Rock Festival, held on September 26th at the Old Square in Bishkek. All concerts were free and open to the public. |

| September 11 Commemoration in Kyrgyzstan President Bakiyev and Ambassador Gfoeller participated in a memorial ceremony at the Transit Center at Manas International Airport on the anniversary of the terrorist attacks of September 11. Together President Bakiyev and Ambassador Gfoeller laid a ceremonial wreath in honor of the victims of the tragic events of September 11. ambassador's remarks |
 | Ambassador Tours Kumtor Gold Mine On August 24 – 25, Ambassador Gfoeller visited the majority Canadian-owned Kumtor gold mine, which is the largest foreign investor in Kyrgyzstan. The mine uses U.S.-made large earth-moving equipment, including several 150-ton Caterpillar dump trucks. |

| Pilot Schools of American English in Kyrgyzstan August 20. Ambassador Tatiana C. Gfoeller announced the opening of a new project, entitled “Pilot Schools of American English in Kyrgyzstan”. These seven American schools, one in each region of Kyrgyzstan, will receive new textbooks with American English and culture, and a series of trainings for their teachers and directors. This is the first such project in Central Asia. Ambassador Gfoeller called the new project “a symbol of the partnership between America and Kyrgyzstan, and a strong basis for improving this partnership through mutual understanding.” ambassador's remarks |
 Ambassador announces Food Assistance Program at AkiPress Agency | Ambassador Tatiana C. Gfoeller Attends Press Conference to Launch USAID’s Food Assistance Program August 13, 2009. Ambassador Gfoeller announced USAID’s Food Assistance Program that will help meet the immediate food needs of approximately 220,000 vulnerable individuals in rural areas of the Kyrgyz Republic. As part of this program, USAID funds of $4.3 million are being used to distribute over 5000 metric tons of flour, oil, and beans that are being purchased from primarily Kyrgyz vendors. This food assistance represents the continuation of on-going U.S. Government assistance to enhance food security in Kyrgyzstan. more... |
 Ambassador Gfoeller talks to a veteran of the World War II Vakhob Usmanov who participated in the Post opening ceremony | Ambassador Gfoeller Opens Green Border Post at Kadamjai in Batken Oblast On August 11, Ambassador Gfoeller traveled to Batken Oblast to officially open a Green Border Post in Kadamjai. At the ceremony, the Ambassador also marked the opening of four other Green Border Posts in Batken Oblast: Yntymak, Palman, Kaitpas, Chekelik. The initiative to construct 24 new Green Border Posts was jointly funded by the U.S. Embassy Export Control and Related Border Security Program and the U.S. Central Command. Since the Export Control and Related Border Security Program began in Kyrgyz Republic in 2000, it has provided 20 million dollars in technical assistance to secure Kyrgyzstan's borders. ambassador's remarks |
| High-Level Delegation to Visit the Kyrgyz Republic Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs William J. Burns and a high-level American delegation visited Bishkek on July 11-12 to discuss a range of bilateral issues with Kyrgyz government leaders. While in Kyrgyzstan Under Secretary Burns met with President Bakiyev, Prime Minister Chudinov, Foreign Minister Sarbayev, members of civil society, and the press. transcript of press conference 07/12/09 |
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