A senior U.S. diplomat met with Kyrgyz officials Friday to discuss arms control and security issues, AP reported. «The principal purpose of my visit was to talk to your government officials about how we might be able to expand our partnership in stopping the spread of these weapons (of mass destruction) as well as missiles as a means of delivery,» Robert Joseph, U.S. undersecretary of state for arms control and international security, told reporters after meeting with Kyrgyz Prime Minister Felix Kulov. «So we talked about expanding our relationship in terms of export controls as well as security forces to protect the border,» he added. Kulov assured Joseph in his welcoming remarks that «we will take all measures to prevent the spread of weapons of mass destruction.» Joseph said that he also spoke to Kyrgyz officials about the upcoming visit by U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice to Central Asia, including Kyrgyzstan, next week. He said that Rice's visit to Kyrgyzstan is «reflective of the strong relationship that we have with your country across the full spectrum of strategic interests.» This ex-Soviet republic hosts a U.S.-led air base to support operations in nearby Afghanistan. There is also a Russian air base in Kyrgyzstan.
