BISHKEK. Sept 17 (Interfax-AVN) - President Askar Akayev's upcoming visit to Moscow will be a key step in strengthening Kyrgyz-Russian relations, Kyrgyz Foreign Minister Askar Aitmatov told Interfax on Wednesday.
"Planned talks with Russian leaders will contribute to partnership cooperation between the two countries," Aitmatov said.
"Such meetings play a crucial role in reaching better understanding on specific aspects of bilateral relations. Kyrgyzstan's foreign policy gives top priority to Russia," the foreign minister noted.
He said that Akayev plans to sign a number of bilateral agreements in Moscow. He would not provide further details.
Meanwhile, a source in the Kyrgyz presidential administration told Interfax that the agenda for Akayev's working visit, scheduled to begin on September 21, includes an interstate agreement on the status of Russian servicemen in Kyrgyzstan and the deployment of a Russian air base to the Kant airfield as part of the Collective Security Treaty Organization's forces.
The source suggested that the air base agreement would be signed by the two countries' defense ministers.
In addition to this, the two nations' security services will sign an agreement to ensure reciprocal protection of classified information. The Kyrgyz Foreign Ministry and the Russian Interior Ministry plan to sign a protocol on amendments to the labor migration agreement.