Kyrgyz Justice Minister refuses to sign memorandum on Kumtor 

 "I didn't sign the memorandum on Kumtor, because the Government didn't execute the parliament's decree on increase of Kyrgyzstan's share in a joint venture with Canadian party up to 67 percent," the Minister of Justice Almambet Shykmamatov stated today at a session of Ata-Zhurt parliamentary faction.

According to him, the decision of the deputies presented in form of a decree, is a legal act, which is subject to mandatory execution. "The decree says that if Kyrgyzstan's share in a joint venture isn't increased up to 67 percent, it will be necessary to initiate a unilateral withdrawal from the agreement on Kumtor. As the Government didn't manage to achieve these results, I didn't sign the memorandum on creation of a joint venture," Almambet Shykmamatov, protégé of Ata Meken faction, added.

Recall, the Cabinet suggests creation of a joint venture with equal participation interest.