1. Could you inform our leadership about the main priorities of the candidacy of the Kyrgyz Republic to a non-permanent seat at the UN Security Council for the period 2027-2028?

Kyrgyzstan’s goal is to help build a safer and more prosperous world for future generations. Our main priorities are:

1. Promoting peace and preventing weapons of mass destruction:
   Kyrgyzstan leads the Treaty on a Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone in Central Asia and supports global efforts to eliminate nuclear weapons. We believe security comes from cooperation and trust, not weapons. That’s why we decided to join the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW). We want a world free of nuclear threats for future generations.
2. Strengthening trust and cooperation in the UN:
   We want to avoid divisions and “bloc mentality” in the Security Council. Instead, we will support dialogue, preventive diplomacy, and mediation to resolve conflicts peacefully.
3. Supporting stability in Afghanistan:
   Regional security depends on peace in Afghanistan. Kyrgyzstan has provided humanitarian aid to help Afghan people, especially women and children. We also back projects like CASA-1000, which will improve energy and transport links between Central Asia, Afghanistan, and South Asia.
4. Focusing on sustainable development in the Global South:
   We want to raise awareness and support for development in Africa, Asia, Latin America, and Oceania. Our focus is on economic growth, food and energy security, and tackling climate change.
5. UN Security Council reform:
   We believe the Security Council should better represent developing countries, including those from Africa, Asia, and Latin America, so that smaller nations can have a stronger voice in decisions.

Finally, a recent success has been peacefully resolving border issues with Uzbekistan and Tajikistan. Central Asia is showing how regional cooperation and trust can lead to lasting peace. Kyrgyzstan’s candidacy reflects our region’s commitment to contributing to global peace and stability.

2. In particular, how does the Kyrgyz Republic intend to promote and protect the interests of mountainous, small island states and least developed countries?

The world is facing many serious and connected challenges like conflicts, climate change, and economic inequality. Small states, developing countries, landlocked nations, least developed countries (LDCs), and small island developing states (SIDS) are among the most vulnerable.

As a mountainous country directly affected by climate change, Kyrgyzstan understands these shared challenges. We will push for stronger global action on climate adaptation, sustainable mountain development, and protecting fragile ecosystems. This includes support for early warning systems, including climate risks in peacebuilding efforts.

For example, the recent Agreement on Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) helps protect small island states, which face rising sea levels and climate impacts despite producing very little pollution. Kyrgyzstan stands in solidarity with these islands and calls on wealthy countries to provide more funding to fight climate change.

Kyrgyzstan wants to be a bridge-builder at the UN, making sure the concerns of small island and mountainous states are heard. If elected to the Security Council, we will work to make the Council more open and transparent, especially for smaller and vulnerable countries affected by climate issues.

We also recognize that climate change and ecosystem damage in mountains affect millions of people beyond just mountain communities. To address this, Kyrgyzstan:

• Helped create the Mountain Partnership group within the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).
• Supports the Dialogue on Mountains and Climate Change within the UNFCCC, which had its first global expert meeting and is gaining strong international support.

These actions show Kyrgyzstan’s dedication to tackling climate challenges and promoting sustainable development worldwide.

With our experience in Central Asia, a region with complex geopolitics, Kyrgyzstan will bring a unique perspective to the Security Council. We will promote preventive diplomacy and regional cooperation that includes the voices of small and vulnerable countries.

3. A robust international security system is essential to address the pressing global challenges and threats facing the world today, with the UN Security Council at its core. What proposals does Kyrgyz Republic intend to put forward to enhance the efficiency, fairness, and representativeness of this august body?

The world must recognize that sustainable development is very important for peace and security. Kyrgyzstan knows that security, development, and humanitarian issues are closely linked. We focus on solving the root causes of conflicts, supporting sustainable development, and helping people affected by crises.

Since becoming independent, Kyrgyzstan has followed a balanced foreign policy based on international law, like the UN Charter. We respect equality of all countries, do not use force, avoid interfering in other countries’ affairs, respect borders, and seek peaceful solutions to conflicts. These are key for global peace.

Many people criticize the Security Council for not acting quickly on conflicts in places like Palestine, Ukraine, Syria, Yemen, Haiti, South Sudan, and Mali.

If Kyrgyzstan is chosen, we will work to make the Council more efficient and open, and we want to add more members to better represent different regions. The Security Council must lead in keeping peace and security worldwide. 

Since Africa makes up 70% of the Council’s agenda and has 54 countries with a large population and economy, Kyrgyzstan opened an embassy in Ethiopia to build strong ties with African countries and the African Union, where we want to become an observer.

Kyrgyzstan supports Africa’s wish to increase Security Council seats and fix past imbalances. Many countries, including Kyrgyzstan, have never been on the Council, while some have served many times.

We think adding more members will make the Council more inclusive, transparent, and effective. This reform should help all countries, especially smaller ones from Africa, Asia, and Latin America, to have a say in decisions.

4. The Government of the Kyrgyz Republic, in collaboration with international partners, hosted the Global Mountain Dialogue for Sustainable Development on 24-25 April 2025 in Bishkek. This high-level conference will strengthen international cooperation on climate resilience and sustainable development in mountain regions. What were its key outcomes?

Kyrgyzstan, a country with many mountains, feels a strong responsibility to support the well-being and development of mountain regions.

In April 2025, Kyrgyzstan, together with international partners, hosted the Global Mountain Dialogue conference in Bishkek. This event helped countries work together on how to deal with climate change and support sustainable growth in mountain areas.

Kyrgyzstan is carrying out a Five-Year Action Plan (2023–2027) to develop mountain regions. This plan focuses on adapting to climate change, improving the economy, environment, and social conditions of mountain communities, and ensuring people in these areas have access to healthcare, education, and other services.

The government is working on this plan at both the national level (with a Roadmap) and the international level (with a Global Action Plan), which were shared at the UN in 2023 and 2024.

Besides the 2025 conference, Kyrgyzstan will also host a World Festival of Mountain Youth in August 2025 at Issyk-Kul Lake. Finally, in 2027, Kyrgyzstan plans to hold the Second Global Mountain Summit "Bishkek+25" to review the results of the Five-Year Plan.

5. The historic first-ever EU-Central Asia Summit was held in early April in Samarkand, giving additional impetus to relations between both sides. In what fields is the Kyrgyz Republic interested in expanding cooperation with the European Union?

The first-ever EU-Central Asia Summit in April in Samarkand was a historic event. The EU and Central Asian countries agreed to build a stronger, strategic partnership.

The European Commission announced a big investment plan of 12 billion euros called the Global Gateway program. This program will help improve transport, raw materials, digital technology, and energy cooperation. These areas match Kyrgyzstan’s own development goals up to 2026.

One key area for Kyrgyzstan is digitalization. The country is working to modernize public services using digital technology. Joint projects called "Team Europe" will help reduce the digital gap and support Central Asia’s shift to a digital economy.

Another important area is transport. The EU is helping develop the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route, which is an important way to move goods between Europe and Asia. Kyrgyzstan is also focused on completing the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railroad, which will open access to global markets. We hope the EU will join related infrastructure projects too.

Green energy is also a priority. Kyrgyzstan has lots of hydropower potential, and its biggest project is the Kambarata hydropower plant (HPP-1), which will be the largest in the region.

Kyrgyzstan also sees strong opportunities for cooperation with the EU in education, science, the environment, and regional security.

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The interview was originally published on the Diplomatic World Magazine on July 2, 2025.