President addresses Kyrgyzstanis on 11th anniversary of June 2010 riots in the south of Kyrgyzstan

AKIPRESS.COM - President Sadyr Japarov made an address on the occasion of the 11th anniversary of the June 2010 events in the south of Kyrgyzstan. "We hope that such a tragedy, which resulted in clashes between two brotherly peoples, will never happen again. I want to express special gratitude to our wise and generous nation which encourages tolerance and gives a helping hand to the victims in these hard days, and I would like to reiterate my gratitude to the international community for its support. The events of June were a big lesson for all of us. This tragic ordeal has confirmed the need to strengthen the unity and solidarity of the people for the sake of the future of Kyrgyzstan inherited from our ancestors," the address read.
He called the peoples of Kyrgyzstan for strengthening the unity, promote mutual respect, assistance and trust.
"Osh and Jalal-Abad are multi-ethnic regions. Ethnic diversity is our wealth. More than 80 ethnic groups live in these region. Each ethnic group contributes to the development of our country, Kyrgyzstan, while preserving its culture, language and traditions. We are an open country with friendly, hard-working and hospitable people. In our development, we are striving to strengthen friendship with our neighbors and mutually beneficial cooperation with all countries of the world," he added.
The June 2010 riots were clashes between ethnic Kyrgyz and Uzbeks in southern Kyrgyzstan, primarily in the cities of Osh and Jalal-Abad, in the aftermath of the ouster of former President Kurmanbek Bakiyev on April 7. It is part of the larger Kyrgyz Revolution of 2010. Violence that started between Kyrgyz and Uzbeks on May 19 in Jalal-Abad escalated on June 10 in Osh. Interim government led by Roza Otunbayeva declared a state of emergency on June 12 in an attempt to take control of the situation. Uzbekistan launched a limited troop incursion early on, but withdrew and opened its borders to Uzbek refugees. The clashes killed hundreds of people and displaced some 80,000.