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Economy in tatters, Kyrgyzstan awaits Russian aid
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BISHKEK (AFP) – Its economy in ruins after a popular revolt last week, Kyrgyzstan's interim government on Sunday awaited news of financial aid from Moscow, following talks with Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin.

Almazbek Atambayev, first deputy head of the interim Kyrgyz government, flew to Moscow on Thursday seeking help with the Central Asian country's disastrous finances, said interim government chief of staff Emil Kaptagayev.

Kyrgyzstan's new leaders on Friday froze the national banking system, saying deposed President Kurmanbek Bakiyev had pillaged the state coffers before fleeing the capital amid riots that left dozens dead and thousands injured.

"Atambayev met with Putin in Moscow. Discussions were held about the request for not just moral support for our temporary government, but also economic and financial support," Kaptagayev told AFP.

"We are facing a deficit of oil products, a shortage of funds in the state treasury and many important government objects were damaged during the revolution," he added.

Atambayev is expected to arrive back in Bishkek on Sunday, Kaptagayev said.

Thousands of protestors clashed with police across the country during riots over corruption and rising utility prices which saw Bakiyev flee the capital and a temporary government formed under ex-foreign minister Roza Otunbayeva.

The coffers of the impoverished ex-Soviet state now hold only 986 million Kyrgyz soms (16 million euros, 22 million dollars), Otunbayeva's chief of staff Edil Baisenov told AFP on Friday.

Putin pledged economic assistance to the former Soviet republic last week in what was perceived as a sign of warming between Moscow and Bishkek following dismal ties between the Kremlin and the Bakiyev government.

The stability of the ex-Soviet nation is also key to the United States, which has an air base there vital to its military operations in Afghanistan, and Otunbayeva spoke with US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on Saturday.

Clinton telephoned Otunbayeva and urged the leadership to "renew Kyrgyzstan's path to democracy," the State Department said.

Clinton "spoke about regional security and the important role Kyrgyzstan plays in hosting the Transit Center at the Manas Airport," said spokesman P.J. Crowley.

Still, all flights carrying troops from the Manas base were suspended from Friday evening amid security concerns and the United States will instead transport forces to and from Afghanistan via Kuwait, officials said.

The interim government has accused Bakiyev, who told an AFP correspondent in the southern Kyrgyz city of Jalalabad on Friday that he has no intention of stepping down as president, of attempting to foment a civil war.http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20100411/bs_afp/kyrgyzstanunrestpolitics_20100411064909

Chinese Investment Could Rival Russian Soft Loan
A Chinese energy company is considering a $300 million investment in Kyrgyzstan’s northern Chui Province -- an amount rivaling the $300 million soft loan Russia offered to the cash-strapped Central Asian nation in 2009.

The China Guodian Corporation, one of China’s largest electricity producers, engages in "the development, financing, construction and operation of facilities for electricity generation. A representative office for the company has opened in Bishkek and [there are] plans to invest money in the Kyrgyz hydropower sector. In addition, China is interested in developing renewable energy sources," the Chui regional administration said.

The Central Agency for Development, Investment and Innovation, headed by President Kurmanbek Bakiyev’s son, Maxim Bakiyev, and the Ministry of Energy are negotiating the deal with Guodian, the news agency 24.kg reported on April 1.

Russia’s $300 million soft loan to Bishkek is part of a $2.15 billion assistance package that would include investments in energy projects. http://www.eurasianet.org/departments/news/articles/eav040110c.shtml

Bishkek
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Mosque at Naryn, Kyrgyzstan
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Tian Shan Mountain Range (Kyrgyzstan Side)

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Crown Peak 4860
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Int'l organizations coordinate aid on Kyrgyzstan
BISHKEK, April 12 (PNA/Xinhua) -- The United Nations, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) and the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) on Sunday agreed to coordinate efforts in helping Kyrgyzstan, said a CSTO spokesman.

Valery Semerikov, CSTO deputy general secretary, Jan Kubis, special envoy for Kyrgyzstan of the UN Secretary General, and Zhanybek Karibzhanov, OSCE special representative and Deputy Speaker of the Kazakh parliament, held talks here Sunday, said the spokesman.

They exchanged views on the current Kyrgyz situation, and reached consensus on coordinating efforts to support and help the impoverished Central Asian country.

Only if all international organizations would pool efforts to give comprehensive assistance to Kyrgyzstan, could the country walk out of crisis and retain normal order, said the spokesman.

Meanwhile Deputy Prime Minister Omurbek Tekebayev held meeting with special representative of the European Union (EU) Pierre Morel the same day.

Morel voiced concerns on situations in southern Kyrgyzstan, while calling on relevant parties to actively seek ways to stabilize Kyrgyz political situation and to maintain regional peace.

Latest figures from the interim health ministry put the death toll at 81.

Earlier this week, thousands of protesters clashed with security forces throughout the country, driving out local governments and seizing government headquarters in Bishkek.

President Kurmanbek Bakiyev fled the capital to southern Kyrgyzstan and opposition parties formed an interim government led by Otunbayeva, the former foreign minister, on Thursday. (PNA/xinhua) http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=4&sid=&nid=4&rid=269172

Kyrgyz interim gov't expects more economic aid from Russia
BISHKEK, April 12 (PNA/Xinhua) -- First Deputy Prime Minister of the interim Kyrgyz government told reporters Monday that the government expected more economic aid from Russia due to the current situations.

"In the peace time in 2009 Kyrgyzstan had been allocated 150 million dollars, and in the developed situation, naturally, aid will be bigger," said Almazbek Atambayev at a press conference.

The deputy prime minister in charge of economic affairs said a delegation will fly to Moscow on Wednesday, seeking solutions to the suspension of oil products and more grants.

Meanwhile, Atambayev said the interim leaders mulled special operation against President Kurmanbek Bakiyev, who fled to the south.

He also pledged to stick to all international commitments, including the agreement between Kyrgyzstan and the United States on the transit center at Manas airport.

"I believe that in a year's time the U.S. will be withdrawing its troops from Afghanistan and we will settle the issue of the presence of the center in Kyrgyzstan in a civilized way together with the U.S. government," he said.

On Sunday, the interim government announced the removal of several ambassadors, including those to Russia, the United States and Turkey.

Marat Bakiyev, brother of President Bakiyev and previous ambassador to Germany and Norway, was also discharged, said the state-run Kyrgyz news agency.

Last week, thousands of protesters clashed with security forces throughout the country, driving out local governments and seizing government headquarters in Bishkek.

Bakiyev fled to the south and opposition parties formed an interim government led by Roza Otunbayeva, former foreign minister. (PNA/Xinhua) http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=4&sid=&nid=4&rid=269332

Russia's Medvedev blames Kyrgyz authorities for unrests, says civil war risk high
WASHINGTON, April 14 (PNA/RIA Novosti) -- In his first comments on Kyrgyzstan's riots, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev blamed Kyrgyz authorities for failing to prevent unrests and said the risk of a civil war in the Central Asian country is high.

Protests against Kyrgyz President Kurmanbek Bakiyev and his government began April 6 in the country's northwest and grew violent spreading to other regions of the country, including the capital Bishkek; over 80 people were killed and more than 1,500 injured. The opposition formed an interim government. Bakiyev fled Bishkek and is in the country's south - his traditional stronghold.

"Kyrgyz authorities are responsible for the hard situation in Kyrgyzstan, which is again going through a phase of illegitimate development," Medvedev said, apparently recalling the 2005 tulip revolution that brought Bakiyev to power.

Medvedev spoke at Brookings Institution, a leading U.S. think tank, after the end of the April 12-13 Nuclear Security Summit in Washington.

Since the Tulip revolution, Kyrgyzstan's Constitution has been almost completely changed four times in bids to increase and reduce presidential powers.

In 2009, Bakiyev began amending an article which regulates the succession of presidency in case of death or unexpected resignation. Experts have seen the move as an attempt to introduce a "dynastical system" of power transfer in the country, one of the factors which fueled last week's nationwide protests in Kyrgyzstan.

Medvedev lamented that the current situation looks like the 2005 events. "At one time the former Kyrgyz president [Askar Akayev] was deposed by the opposition and he was forced to flee the country. He was blamed for economic crimes and corruption," he said.

"A few years have passed, but in essence the mottos and people are the same... It is sad because Kyrgyzstan is our close neighbor, and the last thing I would want now is Kyrgyzstan turning into a might-have-been state," the Russian leader said.

Medvedev also said he believes Kyrgyzstan is on the verge of a civil war that could split the country into north and south.

"The risk of Kyrgyzstan splitting into two parts - north and south - really exists... Kyrgyzstan is on the threshold of a civil war, and the forces in Kyrgyzstan should be aware of their responsibility before the Kyrgyz nation... and the existence of the Kyrgyz state," the Russian president said.

He urged an end to bloodshed in Kyrgyzstan. (PNA/RIA Novosti)http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=4&sid=&nid=4&rid=269739

Kyrgyz interim government promises no civil war, further bloodshed
BISHKEK, April 15 (PNA/RIA Novosti) -- The Kyrgyz provisional government will not allow further bloodshed or a civil war to develop in the country, interim Deputy Prime Minister Temir Sariyev said at a press conference on Thursday.

"There will be no civil war in Kyrgyzstan," he said, commenting on the possibility of a conflict between the southern and northern regions of the country.

He said law enforcers had been sent to the South, which is ousted President Kurmanbek Bakiyev's traditional power-base, to control the situation.

"Law enforcers will not shoot at civilians and we will not allow any bloodshed," Sariyev said.

Protests began in the northwestern Kyrgyz town of Talas and spread to other regions of the country including the capital, Bishkek last week. Over 80 people were killed and more than 1,500 people were injured.

Sariyev also added that southern regions have already acknowledged the new power and are ready to collaborate with it.

He said the vast majority from the South "does not support" Bakiyev. (PNA/RIA Novosti)http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=4&sid=&nid=4&rid=270057

Russia to provide $20M grant and $30M preferential credit to Kyrgyzstan
Russia will provide $20 million grant and $30 million preferential credit to Kyrgyzstan. This decision, as informed by Russian information sources, has been adopted by the Russian Government on 14 April.
“I consider it possible to provide humanitarian assistance – a grant in the amount of $20 million for preferential payments with the purpose of social support”, Prime-TASS agency quotes the Russian Minister of Finance Aleksey Kudrin. Besides, according to him, Rosselkhozbank is ready to provide $30 million preferential credit.

Aleksey Kudrin noted that “at present collectability of custom and tax payments, ensuring current expenses of the government, in Kyrgyzstan is weak”. He added that in the nearest future the Ministry of Finance of Russia is willing to consider the issue of monetary policy in regard to the Kyrgyz Republic in the midterm. In particular, according to Aleksey Kudrin, it is necessary to involve central banks of both countries in this work, in order to evaluate the situation of balance of payments and opportunities of the Central Bank on expansion of liquidity in economy.

Russian Vice-Premier Igor Sechin stated Russian oil companies are also ready to supply to Kyrgyzstan 25,000 tons of petroleum products for maintenance of spring field works. The Vice-Premier, informs RosBusinessConsulting, specified that firstly diesel fuel will be supplied. “In perspective we have active work on electric power industry”, he added.

Minister of Agriculture of Russia Elena Skrynnik stated that Russia is also ready to provide 1,500 tons of seeds. Kyrgyzstan, according to her, incurs a deficit in them. Besides, Elena Skrynnik noted the Ministry of Agriculture of Russia plans to take measures for increase of commodity turnover with the KR, primarily by means of growth of import of vegetables and fruit that are in demand.

Head of the Russian Government Vladimir Putin, as informed by Vesti.ru, stated that if necessary the assistance to Kyrgyzstan will be increased. He requested the ministers to continue contacts with the interim government of Kyrgyzstan. “We need to take decisions promptly with the colleagues regarding their needs”, highlighted Vladimir Putin.

According to him, the situation in economy and social sphere of Kyrgyzstan is critical. “According to the statement of the interim government, the treasury is empty, the previous management has stolen, ransacked and destroyed everything”, he noted. “Of course, we are not to judge this. But we always had peculiar relations with the Kyrgyz people, and certainly we should support our friends in emergency”.http://eng.24.kg/politic/2010/04/15/11027.html

Interim Government of Kyrgyzstan prepares roadmap of economic reforms
The interim government of Kyrgyzstan prepares a roadmap of economic reforms, informed head of the KR interim government office Edil Baisalov at the press conference today, on 16 April.

According to him, the roadmap may be published next week. “You will know about plans on creation of working places and other actions of the interim government”, Edil Baisalov asserted.

He expressed disagreement with the versions that there are some discrepancies in the interim cabinet. “The interim government is a full-fledged democratic government”, stated Baisalov. “Unlike the previous ones the interim government builds its activity upon collectivity, open discussion of issues. Conflicts and discrepancies now are out of the question. The interim government realizes in full the high responsibility in front of people of Kyrgyzstan”.

He reminded that in the nearest months in Kyrgyzstan there will be held a referendum on Constitution, then parliamentary elections, after which a legitimate government will be formed.http://eng.24.kg/politic/2010/04/16/11063.html

Reduction of economic indicators and deterioration of investment climate in Kyrgyzstan should not be admitted
Kyrgyzstan: it is important not to admit reduction of economic indicators and deterioration of investment climate, stated in an open letter the International Business Council.

“As regular researches of business environment and investment climate show, consequences of March 2005 events were reduction of economic indicators, deterioration of investment climate in the country”, the document says. “At present it is important not to admit its repetition and to improve the situation jointly with civilian sector and state authorities”.

“At present ensuring of stability, public security and guarantee of property rights protection remains central and foremost priorities of the country management”, says the open letter.

The International Business Council announced “more long-term priorities of development, which actually are equally important both for business community and investors, and for ordinary citizens of Kyrgyzstan”.

“First of all, these are ensuring of public and personal security, safety of property, open and effective state management”, emphasizes the International Business Council. “Independence of judicial system and consistency in application of legislation, fair tax administration are also important factors for business. Special priority is effective fighting corruption and clanship at all levels of state management”.

“The above mentioned priorities are fundamental, and their earliest implementation will bring to development and prosperity of the country”, considers the IBC. “The IBC worked out a program of implementation and achievement of these priorities, and the council is ready to provide adequate support and expertise in implementation of set goals and earliest stabilization of situation in the country”.http://eng.24.kg/politic/2010/04/16/11057.html

New Kyrgyz government promises holding elections this year
UNITED NATIONS, April 17 (PNA/Itar-Tass) - A new Kyrgyz government under Roza Otunbayeva promised to hold parliamentary and presidential elections in the country within six months, said Jan Kubis, special envoy of the U.N. Secretary-General.

“The Kyrgyz Constitution will be revised within the coming three months,” he also said.

Kubis likewise said the Kyrgyz government and ex-President Kurmanbek Bakiyev reached an agreement under which the ex-president could leave the country.

“Roza Otunbayeva, as head of the provisional government, guaranteed immunity to Mr. Bakiyev and his family while the latter signed an application on his resignation from the post of the president of Kyrgyzstan after he left the country together with his wife and two children,” Kubis continued.

According to information reaching him, however, the guarantees do not extend to other members of the Bakiyev family including his brothers.

“One of the brothers of the ex-president is staying in Kyrgyzstan,” he said.

Kubis stressed Kyrgyzstan is among the region's poorest countries and “its economic and social problems will not be resolved automatically with the coming of the new rulers.”

He believes support of the world community is needed for restoring normal life in the country.

According to Kubis, both Bakiyev and Roza Otunbayeva appealed to the U.N. to conduct an international investigation on developments in Kyrgyzstan where 82 people died during the unrest and some 1,500 others were wounded. (PNA/Itar-Tass)http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=4&sid=&nid=4&rid=270358

Russian and Chinese interests and the fate of the new Kyrgyz government
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Bishkek (AsiaNews/Agencies) – The fall of President Kurmanbek Bakiyev’s administration was preceded by an unprecedented campaign of criticism by Russian media, including radio and the web, which are accessible from Kyrgyzstan. Experts believe that Moscow played a role in Bakiyev’s fall. After accumulating a lot of power, he had become a thorn in Russia’s side. They now wonder how much Russia will be able to strengthen its ties with the new government at the expense of the United States and China.

Russia slapped export duties on fuel shipments to Kyrgyzstan at the start of the month, causing suppliers to halt deliveries. This pushed up already soaring energy costs in the Central Asian nation, sparking unrest in a country that is already reeling from widespread poverty.

Russia had not particularly welcomed Bakiyev’s decision to renew a lease on a transit centre (pictured) at Manas airport, run by the United States for its war in Afghanistan.

Experts believe that the former Kyrgyz president had first agreed with Moscow to close down the US facility in exchange for economic aid, causing Russia's anger when last June he renewed the US lease.

After a provisional government took over in Bishkek, Moscow announced its support for the new administration and pledged a US$ 50 million financial aid package.

Roza Otunbayeva, the new government’s chairwoman, was able nonetheless to get US backing, following a trip to Bishkek by Assistant Secretary of State Robert Blake who got reassurances about the US presence in Manas. Otunbayeva also said that she plans to visit Washington to meet officials there.

Closer Kyrgyz-Russian relations worry Beijing. For Chinese leaders Kyrgyzstan is a key element in their Central Asia strategy. Back in December, China successfully broke Russia’s stranglehold over the region’s energy market when it launched a 2,000-km gas pipeline from Turkmenistan. The pipeline goes through Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, entering China at the Alataw Pass in Xinjiang, where it connects with the West–East Gas Pipeline, where it continues to Shanghai.

Even though the new structure avoids Kyrgyzstan, the Central Asian nation is important to China. It has in fact become its third-largest trading partner in the Commonwealth of Independent States after Russia and Kazakhstan.

Chinese companies are very active in the country, with bilateral trade reaching the US$ 10 billion mark, a huge sum for the impoverished country of five million people. Indeed, days before the riots, China's Guodian Corp had announced plans to invest US$ 4 billion in Kyrgyzstan's heating and power sector over the next five years.

However, Chinese businesses suffered "heavy losses" from looting during the riots in Bishkek. The Chinese-owned Guoying shopping mall was burned for the second time since Kyrgyzstan's Tulip Revolution in 2005.

China has not yet adopted an official stance towards the coup, but Kyrgyzstan remains central to Beijing’s plans to increase its influence in Central Asia.

For this reason, Chinese experts and media have repeatedly said that Kyrgyzstan’s relations with China would not change. In fact, Beijing too can be liberal in its aid to a country that ostensibly cannot hope to improve its economy without foreign aid.http://www.asianews.it/news-en/Russian-and-Chinese-interests-and-the-fate-of-the-new-Kyrgyz-government-18201.html

Kyrgyzstan leads within CIS for Gross Domestic Product
The CIS Interstate Statistical Committee has reported on the outcome of the first quarter of 2010.

The Kyrgyz economy outrun its neighbors within the former USSR with Gross Domestic Product growing by 16.4 percent — pushing it into first place in January-March among the CIS countries. Uzbekistan ranks second for GDP growth with a rise of 7.6 percent; it is followed by Tajikistan (6.8 percent), Kazakhstan (6.6 percent), Armenia (5.5 percent), Azerbaijan (5.4 percent) and Russia (4.5 percent).

The CIS Interstate Statistical Committee revealed that growth f Gross Domestic Product in average within Commonwealth countries hit by 4.5 percent.http://eng.24.kg/business/2010/05/07/11407.html

Uluk Kydyrbaev: the interim government to deal with social and economic development in Kyrgyzstan together with businessmen
“The interim government will deal with social and economic development in Kyrgyzstan together with businessmen”, Uluk Kydyrbaev, executive director of Bishkek Business Club, said at the press-conference today.

By his words, National Alliance of Business Associations (NABA) suggested the interim government to create some transparent platform giving the business possibility to assist the interim government in restoration favorable environment for business. In the result the coordinating council was created.



“It will elaborate the main strategy of development by such trends as tax, fiscal, custom policy, investment attraction and optimization of regulatory functions”, Uluk Kydyrbaev clarified.

By his words within coordinating council framework all business associations will work. “We have seen that the government confides the business. This means that the business must entrust the government. We rely on the real result and improvement of economic conditions”, Uluk Kydyrbaev noted. http://eng.24.kg/business/2010/05/06/11402.html

Temir Sariev: Kyrgyzstan can save 600 million soms in May
“Kyrgyzstan can save 600 million soms in May by optimization of the administrative machinery”, Temir Sariev, deputy head of the interim government and acting minister of finance, stated at the press-conference today.

By his words, it becomes possible as CADII and President’s Institution were curtailed. “Ministry of Finance is preparing bill of budget changes”, Temir Sariev said.

He noted that the budget deficiency will be in May as it was in April. However, Ministry of Finance hopes that the plan of tax collections and custom payments will be realized. “It is planned to gather 4 billion 820 million soms in May. The State Tax Administration has to collect 1 billion 76 million soms and Custom Service - 1 billion 350 million soms. In addition, we will have $ 15 million for US base rent for the first quarter. These budget revenues will cover May expenditure”, Temir Sariev said.

By words of Temir Sariev the budget deficiency were formed because of tariff reduction for energy products. “Also we lose 600 million soms because of cancelation of tax for electric power and 2 billion soms because of cancelation of privatization of joint stock company “Severoelektro”, acting minister of finance said. “However, in spite of this it is reserved 220 million soms in the budget to pay compensations for suffered in the April events. And 83 million soms have been paid already”.http://eng.24.kg/business/2010/05/06/11401.html

Envoy confirms Russia's assistance to Kyrgyzstan
BISHKEK, May 15 (PNA/RIA Novosti) - Russian will provide Kyrgyzstan assistance in various spheres to help improve situation in the Central Asian republic which a new wave of unrest rocked in past days, the newly appointed Russian presidential envoy to Kyrgyzstan said.

"Our goal is to provide assistance [to Kyrgyzstan] in all directions of the republic's life. We should work [first] and [then] we will announce results," Vladimir Rushailo said after meeting Friday with Kyrgyz interim Prime Minister Roza Otunbayeva.

The situation in Kyrgyzstan, where a bloody uprising led to government's overthrow in early April, worsened Thursday when supporters of deposed President Kurmanbek Bakiyev stormed the administrative buildings in three southern regions which comprised his former power base.

During their meeting, Rushailo and Otunbayeva discussed possible measures to improve the situation in Kyrgyzstan.

"We should overcome the deadlock and Russia is ready to help us both politically and economically. Russia will be with us," Otunbayeva said after the meeting.

According to Zhanar Moldokulova, a spokeswoman for a pro-Bakiyev group, eight people died in clashes between Bakiyev supporters and backers of the interim government in the city of Jalalabad.

Kyrgyz Health Ministry said 63 people were hospitalized following the unrest while 15 others are in serious condition.

The agency also said one person died after being hospitalized.

On Thursday, the Kremlin said Russian President Dmitry Medvedev appointed Rushailo as his special representative to the Central Asian state.

Rushailo, the first deputy head of the judicial committee at the Russian parliament's upper house, was interior minister from 1999 to 2001 and Security Council secretary until 2004. (PNA/RIA Novosti)http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=4&sid=&nid=4&rid=275909

US to make $15 million airbase payment to Kyrgyz interim government
The United States will transfer $15 million to the Kyrgyz provisional government as rent for the Pentagon's transit center, RIA Novosti reported citing the US president's special assistant for national security.

Michael McFaul said during a visit to the Kyrgyz capital that the first quarterly rent payment since the ouster of President Kurmanbek Bakiyev would be made on Wednesday.

He added that during a meeting with the interim government he also discussed the restoration of democracy and urgent economic aid to Kyrgyzstan.

The military base was built on the territory of Bishkek's Manas airport in 2001 to service the US-led international military operations in nearby Afghanistan.

In early 2009, the Kyrgyz government announced that all US troops would have to leave the country, but later agreed a deal with the Pentagon that increased the rent to $60 million a year and turned the base into a transit center.

Russia also has a base near Bishkek, and in April expressed its readiness to provide aid to Kyrgyzstan's interim government. Finance Minister Alexei Kudrin said Russia would give Kyrgyzstan a $20 million grant and a $30 million concessional loan to help stabilize the economic situation in the ex-Soviet republic after the riots in early April that led to the opposition taking power and Bakiyev's departure. http://news.uzreport.com/aziya.cgi?lan=e&id=75150

Kyrgyzstan business community talks in Astana
Representatives of the business community of Kyrgyzstan conducted talks concerning economic activity problems in Astana, the press service of the Bishkek Business Club (BBC) informs.

Executive Director of BBC Uluk Kydyrbayev and chairman of National Economic Chamber of Kazakhstan “Soyuz Atameken” Azat Peruashev discussed problems of Kyrgyz and Kazakh entrepreneurs involved in foreign business activity: complexity customs administration and insufficient information awareness among entrepreneurs in the field of business activity legal system of Kazakhstan.

“It would be useful to inform Kyrgyzstanis involved in export and import of goods to Kazakhstan with requirements of customs legislation, adopted as a part of Customs Union”, Uluk Kydyrbayev said.http://eng.24.kg/business/2010/05/28/11753.html

GDP of Kyrgyzstan amounts to 51,5 million soms for the last four months
Gross Domestic Product of Kyrgyzstan since January to April amounted to 51,5 million soms, the Ministry of Finance reported.

According to the Ministry, real GDP growth rate was at the level of 11.3 percent. Growth ratio in production sector was 61.3 percent, construction sector – 32.7, agricultural sector -2.3 percent.

In 2009 leading positions according to GDP growth ration belonged to services sector (46.2 percent) and agricultural sector (22.1 percent). Industrial segment hit by 14.8 percent, construction – 5.7 percent.http://eng.24.kg/business/2010/05/27/11739.html

Kyrgyz budget income to amount to 3.8 bln soms in June 2010
Kyrgyzstan state budget income is expected to hit 3 billion 815 million soms in June 2010, the Ministry of Finance informs.

According to tentative forecasts total expenditures will amount to 5,130 billion soms, whereof 2,596,3 billion soms - protected expenditures, 1,743 billion soms – not protected expenditures.

Management of central government debt is planned to spend 791,1 million soms.

Therefore, budget deficit will hit 1,314,8 billion soms in June 2010. At the present day, the Ministry of Finance is searching for money on external and internal sources, Temir Sariev, acting Finance Minister of Kyrgyzstan said.http://eng.24.kg/business/2010/05/27/11737.html

Volume of transactions in Stock Exchange of Kyrgyzstan amounts to over 3.8 million soms
The volume of transactions this week in CJSC Stock Exchange of Kyrgyzstan – has amounted to over 3.8 million soms, SEK-BTS informs.

According to them, from 7 to 11 June there have been six transactions with ordinary corporate shares in the quantity of 413,365 items. The volume of operations made up 3 million 871 thousand 396.7 soms.

In particular, on the CJSC platform there have been transactions with shares of Bishkekkremstroi OJSC, AK Kyrgyzayilkomok OJSC, Silikat OJSC, Oshinwest OJSC, DSU OJSC, MGATP-7 OJSC. http://eng.24.kg/business/2010/06/11/11961.html

People from Alai and Aravan districts coming to Osh
“There is information that people are coming from Alai and Aravan districts to Osh city (Kyrgyzstan)”, representative of the Ombudsman’s Institute southern center Taalaibek Nuraliev told the NA 24.kg.

According to him, all access roads to the city are blocked by internal troops and armored vehicles. “The situation in the center has relatively stabilized, however the skirmish is continuing in outskirts of the south capital and in separate microdistricts. Our center is receiving extremely contradictory information. Mobile connection and Internet are working with disruptions. People live with rumors”, complained Taalaibek Nuraliev.

He noted that fires in the south capital are continuing. Unknown people are setting entertaining centers, cafes, restaurants and trade complexes ablaze. http://eng.24.kg/politic/2010/06/11/11955.html

STATE OF EMERGENCY IN KYRGYZSTAN EXTENDED TO JUNE 25; US OFFICIAL ARRIVES FOR TALKS
BISHKEK, June 20 (Xinhua) -- Kyrgyzstan decided to extend a state of emergency in the southern city of Osh and other areas to June 25, an official statement said Saturday.

"The interim government of Kyrgyzstan extends the state of emergency in the city of Osh, in Uzgen, in Kara-Suu and in the Aravan district of the Osh region until June 25 inclusively," it said.

The state of emergency imposed after ethnic clashes was due to expire on Sunday.

Ethnic clashes broke out in mid-June in southern major city of Osh and later spread to the region of Jalalabad.

The official death toll stood at 191 as of Friday, but interim leader Roza Otunbayeva said during an inspection tour to Osh that the real number was likely 10 times higher, as many of the victims were buried quickly in keeping with local tradition.

Meanwhile, U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Robert Blake on Saturday urged Kyrgyzstan to create conditions for the safe return of refugees displaced by the riots in the south of the country.

Blake is in Kyrgyzstan for talks with the interim government on how to settle the current unrest in the Central Asian country.

According to media reports, Blake, who oversees South and Central Asian affairs at the U.S. State Department, is meeting with interim leader Roza Otunbayeva and other senior officials on the current situation in southern Kyrgyzstan.

Fresh violence broke out in mid-June in Kyrgyzstan's major southern city of Osh and later spread to the region of Jalalabad.

Xinhua reporters said violence had been subsiding since Wednesday, after armed troops were sent to patrol and separate the ethnic Uzbeks from the Kyrgyz communities.

The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), headed by John Holmes, said an estimated 100,000 refugees had fled to neighboring Uzbekistan, and 300,000 others displaced were still seeking aid within Kyrgyzstan, some crowding into villages near the Uzbek border.

Before arriving in Kyrgyzstan, Blake visited several refugee camps set up in Uzbekistan for ethnic Uzbeks who fled their homes in Kyrgyzstan.

Calling for an investigation into the unrest, Blake urged the Kyrgyz interim government to take immediate actions to stop the violence.http://namnewsnetwork.org/v2/read.php?id=124279

Constitution referendum over in Kyrgyzstan, turnout tops 60%
BISHKEK, June 28 (PNA/Itar-Tass) -- The constitution referendum is over in Kyrgyzstan with an over 60% turnout. The ballot was on at 2,281 polling stations from 8:00 a.m. through 8:00 p.m. local time on Sunday.

“The turnout information is yet incomplete,” a source at the Kyrgyz Central Elections Commission told Itar-Tass. “Information keeps coming from regions, and it will take time to sum it up.”

If the referendum is successful, interim government chief Rosa Otunbayeva will be the acting president until December 31, 2011, the Kyrgyz Constitutional Court will be abolished, and Kyrgyzstan will become the first parliamentary republic in Central Asia.

A total of 189 observers from foreign states and international organizations, including the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), the CIS and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), were monitoring the ballot. About a hundred of short-term OSCE observers refused to visit the republic for security reasons.

Inter-ethnic clashes in southern Kyrgyzstan killed 275 people and injured about 2,200. More than 1,400 homes, other buildings and vehicles were looted and set to fire. Refugees flooded border areas of Uzbekistan. Their number exceeded 100,000, but the majority of refugees eventually came back home. The state of emergency and the curfew in the Osh and Jalal-Abad regions, where almost 50% of Kyrgyz citizens live, were lifted only a day before the referendum. More than 15,000 policemen and volunteers ensured law and order on the day of the ballot.

Many citizens lost their ids in the disturbances and were permitted to vote without ids. http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=4&sid=&nid=4&rid=284144

Kyrgyzstan appoints new defense minister

Kyrgyzstan has appointed Abibilla Kudaiberdiev as new defense minister to replace Ismail Isakov, who resigned for parliamentary elections on Tuesday, the Defense Ministry said Wednesday.

Kudaiberdiev served as first deputy defense minister.

Isakov said he intended to run for a seat in the upcoming parliamentary elections in October and wanted to launch his campaign as a candidate for the Azatteh party (liberation party).

Kyrgyzstan has suffered months of turmoil and bloodshed since the ouster of then President Kurmanbek Bakiyev in early April, which left over 300 people dead and thousands more injured.

Interim Prime Minister Roza Otunbayeva was appointed as caretaker president in May.http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/90001/90777/90851/7076457.html

Kyrgyzstan passes anti-crisis plan
Kyrgyzstan passed an anti-crisis plan Wednesday to deal with serious social problems within the country, according to the government press office.

The plan, authorized by interim president Roza Otunbayeva, aims to address critical issues created by political turbulence in April and June this year in order to enhance medium term (2011 - 2012) economic growth.

The turbulence led to profound economic disruption and social disorder, and forced many investors to leave the country. Investment fell, the private sector's confidence was weakened and liquidity in the banking system was reduced.

Small and medium-sized business, especially the service industry, has suffered badly as a result of the social instability.

Some neighboring countries closed their borders and stopped importing agricultural goods from Kyrgyzstan and hurt light and processing industries.

The interim government estimates it needs 1.2 billion U.S. dollars to solve the most urgent social and economic problems. This year alone, it will need 550 to 600 million dollars.

The World Bank, Eurasian Foundation and other international financial organizations would contribute to the plan, the office said.

While tackling its economic and social illness, the interim government also faces the task of political reconstruction.

The Central Election Commission told the press Wednesday that 57 political parties would run in the Oct. 10 parliamentary elections.http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/90001/90777/90851/7108850.html

Kyrgyzstan weighs customs union entry
As Kyrgyzstan's government seriously considers joining a customs bloc with Russia, Belarus and neighbor Kazakhstan, some economic experts have voiced doubts over the wisdom of membership, at least in the near future.

Kyrgyzstan President Roza Otunbaeva announced during a July meeting of the Eurasian Economic Community (EurAsEC), a wider grouping of former Soviet states that the country wanted to join the customs union.

Otunbaeva ordered a working group to look into the economic implications of joining the customs bloc, which is moving towards



the eventual creation of a common market encompassing a population of some 170 million people by the end of 2012.

For the weak Kyrgyz economy, harmonizing customs arrangements with Russia and Kazakhstan is seen as essential if it is to continue trading with them on anything like equal terms. Last year, these two states accounted respectively for over 28% and 10% of Kyrgyzstan's foreign trade.

The introduction of common customs rules for Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan at the beginning of July was a step towards a new divide that will set members of the customs union apart from non-members.

Previously, all EurAsEC members enjoyed a duty-free trading relationship with one another. Now outsiders will have to pay whatever import duties the customs union applies, so Kyrgyzstan's leaders are calculating that they would be better off on the inside.

More broadly, Kyrgyzstan has wider economic and political reasons to stay close to Russia and Kazakhstan, as both are major investors, while Moscow also provides significant aid and loans. Both countries play host to large numbers of labor migrants from Kyrgyzstan.

Anarkhan Rahmanova, who heads the international trade department at the Kyrgyz Ministry for Economic Regulation, has been appointed to lead the working group on customs union entry, and says the value of trade with Russia and Kazakhstan is a key consideration.

"More than 41% of our trade is with customs union countries, so joining would enable us to increase our exports to them," she said.

The Kyrgyz economy, and government finances in particular, are in such poor shape that it cannot afford to go it alone, according to Pavel Dyatlenko, a political analyst with the Polis Asia think-tank. Russia and Kazakhstan are already helping Kyrgyzstan recover from the ethnic violence that rocked the southern towns of Osh and Jalalabad in June and left a trail of devastation, he said.

With a yawning budget deficit for the current year, "a great deal of money is needed to rebuild Osh and Jalalabad and to compensate for the decline in [foreign] trade revenues, investment, remittances from labor migrants and tourist industry income."

He added that "Kyrgyzstan's economy survives because it exports raw materials to these countries, and re-exports large amounts of Chinese goods to them."

China and Kyrgyzstan at present grant one another favorable terms within the framework of the World Trade Organization (WTO), of which they are both members. Neither Russia nor Kazakhstan is in the WTO, however, a fact that leads some Kyrgyz analysts to worry that their country would lose out by switching from one set of rules to another.

China is Kyrgyzstan's second-largest trading partner after Russia, accounting for 14% of trade last year and Kyrgyzstan is Central Asia's main retail point for Chinese-made consumer goods, which are exported throughout the region.

If Kyrgyzstan does not join the customs union, it will find it much harder to export Chinese goods to Kazakhstan at a profit - but if it does join, Kyrgyzstan could end up having to apply import duties double the 5% it applies to goods from WTO members.

Government representative Mukhtar Jumaliev told the 24.kg news agency in July that the customs union would not apply import duties to items produced within Kyrgyzstan, only to goods originally imported from elsewhere and then re-exported.

Uluk Kydyrbekov, acting director of the Bishkek Business Club, said: "If we have to make a choice, it would be better to give priority to the WTO, which is a considerably bigger market than the customs union."

But Jumakadyr Akeneev, an economist who was formerly Kyrgyz agriculture minister, believes the country does not face an either-or choice, since the terms of its WTO membership allow it to join regional economic associations. Nor is the difference in customs tariffs a major problem, as the WTO system is flexible and should allow an accommodation to be made, he said.

Other economists, while not dismissing the benefits of customs union membership, argue that Kyrgyzstan should hold off until Russia and Kazakhstan fulfill their own long-held ambitions to join the WTO. Both countries are still in negotiations with the world trade body. At one point they were considering a joint application as a customs bloc, but they appear to have shifted back to negotiating entry on an individual basis.

"Kyrgyzstan has time to make its final decision on joining the new organization [in the period] before the three customs members enter the WTO," Dyatlenko said. http://atimes.com/atimes/Central_Asia/LI23Ag02.html

Russia, Kyrgyzstan Balk at Signing Defense Pact
Contrary to expectations in Bishkek, Russian and Kyrgyz defense officials failed to sign an agreement to expand Russia’s military presence in Kyrgyzstan. Experts attribute the delay mainly to ongoing political uncertainty in Bishkek.

Kyrgyz and Russian officials spent three days – September 21-23 -- hashing out the details of a 49-year leasing agreement that would cover all Russian military facilities in the Central Asian state, including the Kant air base outside Bishkek. The agreement would also potentially cover the establishment of a new Russian base in southern Kyrgyzstan, a facility that Russia has coveted for over a year. [For background see EurasiaNet’s archive].

In the end, however, Russian and Kyrgyz defense officials could not put pen to paper to finalize the pact, even though the two sides are supposedly in agreement on all basic issues. “All the contentious issues up for negotiation are settled, there is confidence that an agreement will be signed,” Valeriy Gerasimov, Russia’s deputy chief of the General Staff, said during a Bishkek news conference on September 23. Gerasimov indicated that the signing would take place in the spring of 2011.

Prior to the arrival of the Gerasimov-led Russian delegation in Bishkek, the Kremlin seemed intent on completing a deal to set up a new base in Osh. But Gerasimov said the southern-base issue was not a matter of discussion. He did, however, indicate that the two sides had raised the possibility of creating a joint Russian-Kyrgyz facility. And somewhat contradicting his contention that the major points of a pact had been finalized, he revealed that the question of whether Russia would pay more rent for its military facilities is still to be “decided.”

Gerasimov also announced that a planned September 25 visit by Russian Defense Minister Anatoly Serdyukov would not be taking place. Gerasimov offered no reason for the cancellation.

Experts say the anti-climactic ending to the intensive talks was an indicator of Moscow’s lack of confidence in Kyrgyzstan’s provisional administration [For background see EurasiaNet’s archive]. At the same time, Kyrgyz provisional leaders seemed happy enough to defer the issue until after parliamentary elections on October 10.

Adjar Kurtov, an analyst with the Russian Institute for Strategic Studies in Moscow, said Moscow’s hesitancy seemed “reasonable” given Kyrgyzstan’s track record of political instability and its past tendency to hold out for rental agreements. [For background see EurasiaNet’s archive].

“Neither side signed an agreement for different reasons,” Kurtov said. “The Kyrgyz [provisional] government’s legal right to sign international agreements is still doubtful and Russia fears a situation might develop where a new government formed after the [October 10] elections feels compelled to reconsider the agreement for technical reasons,” he said.

Mars Sariev, a Bishkek-based political analyst, expressed doubt that negotiations are basically complete and all that is needed to finalize the agreement is a signing ceremony. “They were supposed to sign it but since they didn’t, it tells me the game’s not over yet,” Sariev said. “It’s postponed until spring because Russia is waiting for a legitimate government to be formed. The Kyrgyz government is not legitimate enough in the eyes of Russia. It’s worrying, it means Russia has difficult situation with the current government.”

Given the increasing activity of militants in Afghanistan and Tajikistan, Russian defense officials remain intent on increasing their strategic profile in Kyrgyzstan, the experts said.

“This situation is fearsome for some Russian leaders such as Viktor Ivanov, the head of the Federal Drug Control Service. They repeatedly talk about the increasing threat of instability and the possible increase in drug trafficking to Russia,” Kurtov said.

“The situation in Afghanistan and in Tajikistan definitely influenced Russia’s decision to maintain a presence in Kyrgyzstan,” Sariev concurred. Russia has wanted to expand its presence in the region for some time and current events in Afghanistan and Tajikistan are playing into their hands.”

A factor that may well have played a role in delaying the signing of the agreement is Kyrgzystan’s strategic relationship with the United States. [For background see EurasiaNet’s archive]. Russia has long encouraged the Kyrgyz leadership to close down the American-operated transit center at Manas, outside Bishkek. Kyrgyz provisional President Roza Otunbayeva is scheduled to meet with US President Barack Obama in Washington on September 24. The Manas facility reportedly will be a focal point of their discussions. http://www.eurasianet.org/node/62003

Obama-Otunbayeva Meeting Could Determine Manas Fuel-Supply Issue
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Kyrgyzstan’s provisional president, Roza Otunbayeva (left), and US President Barack Obama, both seen here addressing the United Nations in September 2010, plan to meet to discuss, in the words of Otunbayeva, a “bouquet of issues.” (Photos: United Nations)

Heading into her September 24 meeting with US President Barack Obama, Kyrgyzstan’s provisional president, Roza Otunbayeva, told EurasiaNet.org in New York that she had a “bouquet of issues” she intended to raise. Sources familiar with US diplomatic thinking, meanwhile, billed the discussions as “a substantial meeting” and “not just a photo op.”

A central point in the discussions could be the American-run Manas transit center outside of Bishkek, a key logistics hub for US and NATO military operations in Afghanistan. [For background see EurasiaNet’s archive].

Otunbayeva is on record as wanting a significant change in fuel-supply arrangements at Manas. Past supply practices are currently subject of a US congressional investigation. [For background see EurasiaNet’s archive].
Specifically, Otunbayeva has called for Kyrgyz state-run enterprises, working in partnership with Russian suppliers, to assume fuel-provision operations at the transit center. [For background see EurasiaNet’s archive].

Gibraltar-registered Mina Corp, an affiliate of the previous contract holder Red Star, has supplied TS-1 jet fuel to Manas since 2007. Mina Corp’s current contract, signed July 2009, is worth up to $730.9 million over three years.

Following the April collapse of former president Kurmanbek Bakiyev’s administration, coupled with the launch of the congressional probe, the Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) chose not to automatically exercise its annual option with Mina Corp. On June 9 a fresh tender for the supply of 360 million gallons of jet fuel was opened. Mina Corp, however, reportedly is continuing to supply fuel on a month-to-month basis. A military spokesman at Manas said the facility consumed 9.6 million gallons of jet fuel in August. [For background see EurasiaNet’s archive].

A source told EurasiaNet.org that the DLA is pressing ahead with its plans to award a new supply contract, based on competitive bids, despite Otunbayeva’s appeal for the Pentagon to do business with the Kyrgyz state. In mid-September, prospective suppliers were subjected to pre-award conferences, a key stage in DLA’s decision-making process, a source familiar with the process told EurasiaNet.org.

Several Washington insiders say the White House could yet pull the plug on the competitive tender and order the Pentagon to work with a nationalized Kyrgyz outfit in partnership with a Kremlin-controlled energy entity, such as Gazprom. The September 24 meeting between Obama and Otunbayeva could play a big role in determining the final US decision.

“The US government is not settled on this. On one side there’s [US Central Command] and DLA and maybe the Department of Defense (DoD) as a whole, on the other you have the State Department and the National Security Council (NSC),” a well-placed source told EurasiaNet.org on September 22. [For background see EurasiaNet’s archive].

“It seems that the State Department and the NSC have not gone so far as to tell DoD to shut this down. But it’s also very clear that no final decision has been taken: when Otunbayeva meets Obama this will be on the top of her agenda,” the source continued.

The Obama White House has tended not to meddle in Pentagon tactical matters, but the Manas fuel-supply issue may represent an exception to that preference, the source indicated. “It [the fuel supply question] is close to coming to an end,” the source said.http://www.eurasianet.org/node/62012

Bishkek Economic Amnesty Plan Falls Flat
It seems that clemency is a dirty word for Kyrgyzstan’s kingpins and power brokers. In early September, Kyrgyzstan’s provisional government offered amnesty to anyone suspected of large-scale embezzlement in either the state or private sector. But after the closing of the month-long window of opportunity, provisional officials revealed that only two individuals sought to take up the government’s pardon offer, and both were ruled ineligible.

The amnesty offer, outlined in a presidential decree issued September 6, was designed to draw a line under the corrupt practices that reputedly prevailed during Kurmanbek Bakiyev’s administration, and focus public and private attention on putting Kyrgyzstan on a sounder economic footing. Kyrgyzstan has a huge budget deficit and any cash recouped under the amnesty offer would have helped plug fiscal gaps. “As a new democratic state, we wanted to move in a direction that is open and transparent, it was a move to counter to what went on before,” said Jusupbek Akmatov, a member of the state commission for investigating Bakiyev-era financial malpractice.

Clemency was offered to anyone suspected economic crimes committed between March 24, 2005, and April 7, 2010. Pardons were conditioned on the return of allegedly embezzled funds, and a requirement to refrain from engaging in politics or holding an appointive and governance for five years.

The only two individuals who sought a pardon were Tursun Turdumambetov, the former head of the State Property Committee, and a former defense minister, Bakyt Kalyev. Provisional officials rejected both applications. “We refused to give them amnesty because our law enforcement agencies recovered what [Turdumambetov and Kalyev]. They had nothing to return,” Akmatov told EurasiaNet.org on October 4. He went on to insist that the pardon plan was not a failure, despite the fact that it had no takers.

Elmira Nogoibaeva, a political analyst and head of the Polis-Asia research center in Bishkek, applauded the amnesty offer, but suggested that it was ill-timed. “Overall, the initiative was positive in and of itself. It was a good, rational step forward, no matter how it ended,” Nogoibaeva said. “But at the moment we don’t have a stable or permanent political or legal situation. Everybody is waiting for the formation of a new government. For people with a lot of capital, the amnesty was a big risk. They want to wait first and look at the new government, because nobody knows what will happen after the elections.”

Parliamentary elections are scheduled for October 10.

Deputy Prime Minister Azimbek Beknazarov labeled those who declined to take advantage of the pardon offer as arrogant, adding that several pending cases against accused white-collar suspects would now proceed. “They didn’t want to ask forgiveness from the people and return what was illegally taken. As a result their criminal cases are going to court,” Beknazarov said on September 30.

Among prominent former officials and business executives accused by the government of financial misdeeds are: Alexei Shirshov, the former head of the weapons company Dastan; Mikhail Nadel, the ex-chairman of Asia Universal Bank; Marat Alapaev, former chairman of the National Bank; and Alexei Eliseev, ex-deputy director of the Kyrgyz Central Agency for Development, Investment and Innovation. All of the accused fled Kyrgyzstan amid the collapse of the Bakiyev administration in early April. They thus would have to be tried in absentia.

Akmatov said that although the criminal cases would be vigorously pursued, the process would likely be protracted. “I think these cases will take very long time. Because many of the people escaped it means they won’t be present in the court which will prolong the consideration of each case,” Akmatov said.http://www.eurasianet.org/node/62078

US Military Base in Kyrgyzstan Threatened with Closure
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TEHRAN (FNA)- US is struggling to maintain its military foothold in Kyrgyzstan as anti-Washington parties that won the recent parliamentary elections vowed to close down the US Manas Air Base in the Central Asian country.


Manas Air Base in Kyrgyzstan, which is also called Ganci Air Base, is a military installation of the United States at Manas International Airport, located near the Kyrgyz capital city of Bishkek. The air base is chiefly operated by the US Air Force.

The base has been used since 2001 as a refueling stop and transit hub for operations in Afghanistan. Thousands of personnel and roughly 500 tons of cargo pass through the base each month.

It has also been a focal point in the struggle between the United States and Russia. Russia's influence is extensive in the former Soviet republic, and Moscow has been irritated by the US presence in what it calls its "near abroad" - the former Soviet territories.

Ar-Namys and Republika, two of the five parties which crossed the threshold in parliamentary elections and will have a say in the next government in Kyrgyzstan are anti-US and have, thus, demanded a closure of the Manas Air Base.

Ar-Namys has announced that the US military presence in Kyrgyzstan is the main cause of instability in the country and is against Kyrgyzstan's national interests.

Two other parties represent the current leadership and are more pro-Western and so more accommodating to the base, the Social Democrats and Ata-Meken.

And the fifth, top vote-getter Ata-Zhurt, is Kyrgyz nationalist. The tAta-Zhurt has made closing the Manas Air Base a central part of its political program. The previous government had vowed to keep it open.

Meantime, Washington's Ambassador to Bishkek Tatiana Gfoeller in an interview with Kyrgyzstan's national television tried to underline the significance of the air base for the US military activities and logistic supports for US forces in Afghanistan.

The diplomat, who seemed too worried in the interview, said that the US will seek negotiations with the new Kyrgyz officials about the issue.http://english.farsnews.com/newstext.php?nn=8907241602

Kyrgyzstan receives international fund to repair riot damage
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Kyrgyzstan has received international assistance of 280 million U.S. dollars to repair the damage caused by the June unrest in the southern regions of Osh and Jalalabad, Xinhua reported according to a government official.

Russia and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) each extended a loan of 100 million dollars to the troubled Central Asian state, said Kadanbai Baktygulov, the deputy general-director for restoration and development of the two regions.

Another 80 million dollars came from the World Bank (WB), the official was quoted as saying by the Interfax news agency.

All the funds will be allocated for restoration of water, electricity, heat and gas services, road reconstruction, as well as renovation of public facilities and municipal infrastructure, said the official.http://en.trend.az/regions/casia/kyrgyzstan/1774494.html

Kyrgyzstan Opens Trial Against Ousted President
Former Kyrgyz President Kurmanbek Bakiyev and 27 of his top allies went on trial Wednesday on charges of using deadly violence against protesters in April.

The former president is being tried in absentia. More than 80 people were killed during the uprising, which toppled Mr. Bakiyev's government.

A number of people gathered outside the building in Bishkek where the trial is underway to demand punishment of the officials for their alleged involvement in the attempt to suppress the uprising. The new government in Kyrgyzstan has said the former president and his allies ordered security forces to shoot at the demonstrators.

The trial comes a week after Kyrgyzstan's newly-elected parliament convened for its first session.

Elections were held last month, with the nationalist party Ata-Zhurt, or Fatherland, emerging as the lead vote-getter. Ata-Zhurt is now leading talks to form a coalition government.

The United States, which operates a military air base in Kyrgyzstan to support the war in Afghanistan, has embraced the Kyrgyz effort to create the region's first parliamentary democracy.

Russia, which also has an air base in Kyrgyzstan, opposes the parliamentary model.

Kyrgyzstan has been plagued by instability since the deadly rebellion.

Riots broke out in June between ethnic Kyrgyz and minority Uzbeks in the country's south, killing hundreds of people and displacing some 400,000 others.http://www.voanews.com/english/news/asia/Kyrgyzstan-Opens-Trial-Against-Ousted-President-108652714.html

Ar-Namys fraction asks for more time to recommend a candidate for Speaker
The Ar-Namys fraction asked to give time to recommend their candidate for Speaker.

Within 15 minutes, the party must choose the candidate. Most likely, the faction will back its leader Felix Kulov.

The deputies went for the consultations. http://eng.24.kg/politic/2010/12/02/15115.html

Kyrgyzstan got $1 billion from migrants in 2010
BISHKEK – During the first ten months of 2010 Kyrgyz migrants abroad sent home US $968m, Ferghana.ru reported December 7, citing KyrgTAG.

Some US $ 908m were sent from Russia, and US $25m — from Kazakhstan.

The largest amount migrants sent home to Kyrgyzstan was US $1.2 billion in 2008. http://centralasiaonline.com/cocoon/caii/xhtml/en_GB/newsbriefs/caii/newsbriefs/2010/12/07/newsbrief-09

Kyrgyzstan establishes education as priority for funding
rding to him, teachers do not demand something supernatural. There are funds in state budget for salary high-up. “Did government of the Kyrgyz Republic refuse to allocate KGS 4-5 million for teachers’ needs? I asked Minister of Education and Science of the Kyrgyz Republic to calculate all schools’ and universities’ needs including not only salary but also travel allowance, text books, computers and other. We need concrete information before we make any decision,” said Akylbek Zhaparov.

“I suggest that 10 percent of any investments into the republic were transferred to educational system,” said Akylbek Zhaparov. “I want to modernize educational sphere. But the system cannot be changed without decisive actions. I suggest to equal teachers’ salary to minimum living wage. Now it is KGS 4 thousand and it changes annually. At the same time we shall leave perks for employment years, work in high-mountain conditions, in rural area, as well as set salary fund.”http://eng.24.kg/community/2011/01/20/15884.html

US Government pays for Parliament equipment
US Ambassador in Kyrgyzstan Tatiana C. Gfoeller on January 24, 2011 will grant $54.266 to the Parliament of Kyrgyzstan, as reported by US Embassy in the Kyrgyz Republic.

It is reported that these funds would be spent on purchase of technical equipment for law and staff departments of the Parliament. “Both parliamentary departments have important role in development of bills package, consisting of 30 drafts of laws, adjusting country’s legislation in accordance with Constitution, passed in June 2010,” reported US Embassy.

Note that in year 2010 US Government via United States Agency for International Development allocated over $300 thousand to government of the Kyrgyz Republic for purchase of equipment for two premises of government house and Parliament.http://eng.24.kg/community/2011/01/21/15895.html

Roza Otunbayeva earns KGS 126 thousand per month
he previous day Kyrgyz language newspaper Uchur published article declaring that according to information of its source, “monthly salary of Roza Otunbayeva is KGS 125 thousand.”

“If president of transitional period has such salary than what salary does the Prime-Minister have? It seems that salary of ministers, deputies is also over 100 thousand, doesn’t it? Otherwise it is unfair…” wrote Uchur.

Meanwhile, press-secretary of president for transitional period Sultanbek Kanazarov did not conferm the information of Uchur to 24.kg news agency, saying he did not know the amount of Roza Otunbayeva’s salary. “It seems to be closed information,” said he.http://eng.24.kg/community/2011/01/21/15891.html

Kyrgyzstan to increase doctors' salaries


Azerbaijan, Baku, March 19 / Trend V.Zhavoronkova /

Kyrgyzstan announced that doctors’ salaries in the country would increase by at least 100 percent from May 2011, the WHO reported.

Kyrgyz Health Minister Sabyrbek Jumabekov stated about this during a meeting with WHO Regional Director for Europe Zsuzsanna Jakab at WHO/Europe
This development is one of the initiatives that the Health Ministry is introducing to encourage doctors to begin and remain working in Kyrgyzstan, he said. The country’s health system lacks medical personnel, meaning that new equipment cannot be used effectively and patient waiting lists are long.

Jakab welcomed this development as part of broad health system reforms, and expressed WHO’s ongoing commitment to support the development of a national health strategy for public health in Kyrgyzstan.

The visit provided an opportunity for Jumabekov to meet WHO/Europe’s directors and learn more about their programs. He expressed his appreciation of WHO’s work and thanked Jakab for an extremely useful discussion.http://en.trend.az/news/politics/1848628.html

Kyrgyzstan's prices increase by 6.8 percent since early 2011
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In Kyrgyzstan, prices increased by 6.8 percent in the first four months of 2011, as reported Statistical Committee of the Commonwealth of Independent States, 24.kg reported.

According to the department, consumer inflation in CIS amounted to 4.7 percent during the period from January to April 2011. The major price increase occurred in Belorussia - 10.9 percent.

In Tajikistan, prices grew by 6.1 percent, in Armenia - by 5 percent, in Ukraine - by 4.7 percent, in the Russian Federation and Moldova - by 4.3 percent, in Kazakhstan - by 4.2 percent, and in Azerbaijan - by 3.9 percent. However, there are no data about Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan.

For comparison, during the first four months of year 2010, inflation in CIS totaled 5.3 percent.http://en.trend.az/regions/casia/kyrgyzstan/1887454.html

Hijab Controversy Charges Debate over Islam’s Role in Society
Political, religious, and civil society organizations in the Central Asian country are in a debate over whether wearing such headscarves, called hijabs, should be allowed in public schools.

Set against the backdrop of a presidential campaign, a debate in Kyrgyzstan over Islam’s place in public life is gaining steam.

The debate is centering on an effort by Muslim civil society groups to enable schoolgirls to wear Islamic headscarves, or hijabs, in public schools. The campaign is pitting two government bodies against each other, while sparking debate within liberal circles over where to draw the boundaries separating mosque and state. More: http://www.eurasianet.org/node/64306

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Men Competing In A Horse Game For National Day, Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan (http://www.flickr.com/photos/mytripsmypics/6271897569/) by Eric Lafforgue (http://www.flickr.com/people/mytripsmypics/), on Flickr

Kyrgyz agriculture minister resigned
Kyrgyz Minister of Agriculture and Land Reclamation Saparbek Tynaev resigned, KirTAG reported on Tuesday.Read more (http://en.trend.az/regions/casia/kyrgyzstan/2005594.html)

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Kyrgyzstan - 7 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/11263395@N04/7021579941/) by ashlamand (http://www.flickr.com/people/11263395@N04/), on Flickr

Одним мостом в столице стало больше

Сегодня в 11:00 часов на пересечении улицы Кулиева и БЧК состоялось торжественное открытие пешеходного моста через Большой Чуйский канал.



Открывал новое сооружение мэр г.Бишкек Иса Омуркулов.

Необходимость строительство моста назрела уже давно. На северной стороне БЧК расположен жилмассив «Көлмө», где проживают 5643 жителя, из них 1472 –дети школьного возраста. Чтобы им вовремя попасть на учебу, нужно добираться до ближайших мостов-переходов, которые находятся на расстоянии более 900 метров. Кстати, на южной стороне канала расположены СШ №19, №41, в которых обучаются 1427 ребенка, из них более половины проживают в жилом массиве «Көлмө». И именно из–за отсутствия моста дети были вынуждены пересекать БЧК по газовой трубе, подвергая риску свою жизнь и здоровье.

Чтобы кардинально решить эту проблему, по инициативе мэра столицы Исы Омуркулова был построен пешеходный мост длиною 27 метров при ширине 1,20 метра. Для удобства лиц с ограниченными возможностями здоровья мост оборудован пандусами, нанесена дорожная разметка, установлен знак пешеходного перехода, планируются и «лежачий полицейский».

В этой связи стоит напомнить, что новые мосты не открывались в Бишкеке давно. По информации УКС, в 2012 году был произведен капремонт моста по ул. Л. Толстого через реку Ала-Арча, а в 2010 году - также капремонт пешеходного мостового перехода через реку Аламедин на пересечении ул. Фрунзе и Осмонкула.

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Столичный градоначальник обсудил проекты «будущего Бишкека» с молодым архитектором

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Глава столичного муниципалитета Иса Омуркулов встретился с директором архитектурной студии Юрием Смирновым. Во время встречи архитектор предложил мэру Бишкека проект по благоустройству столицы.



В ходе беседы столичный градоначальник сообщил об инициативе по созданию креативного совета, который даст возможность молодым и талантливым специалистам воплотить свои замыслы на деле. Иса Омуркулов также отметил, что в Бишкеке есть необходимость в строительстве масштабных киноконцертных, эстрадно-выстовочных комплексов, а также международного спортивного комплекса. В свою очередь, архитектор сказал, что в его проекте предусмотрена идея по созданию специального бизнес парка, в котором будет построен спортивный комплекс, выставочная зона, а также строительство монорельсовой дороги, для удобства перемещения по парку.

«Мы представляем креативный проект по благоустройству столицы “Стратегия процветания Бишкека — 2025. По плану этого проекта предполагается благоустроить центральную площадь „Ала-Тоо“ и ВДНХ. Строительство бизнес парка поднять статус страны в глазах инвесторов”, — сказал Ю. Смирнов.

В завершение встречи градоначальник одобрил предоставленный проект архитекторов и сообщил о готовности сотрудничать и обсуждать перспективные и авангардные проекты.

Мэр Бишкека начал креативное наступление вместе c известным отечественным архитектором.

Накануне прошла вторая рабочая встреча в рамках созданного недавно по инициативе градоначальника Креативного совета. На этот раз ИсаОмуркулов посетил студию известного, как в Кыргызстане, так и за его пределами архитектора Юрия Смирнова.
Проведя презентацию как своих работ, Юрий Геннадьевич особо заинтересовал мэра деталями и планами проекта реконструкции площади «Ала-Тоо» и ВДНХ.

- Я рассматривал эту часть города с точки зрения историчности. Вот в этом месте (показывает на иллюстрацию проекта – авт.) находятся остатки старой православной церкви, потом там был выставочный центр и т.д., - рассказывает Смирнов. - На самом деле первая градостроительная точка, которая была в Пишпеке – это Воскресенская площадь. И создавая свою концепцию, я попытался восстановить и ту площадь, а от нее перешел уже к площади Ала-Тоо.

Стоит отметить, что проект по реконструкции ВДНХ и прилегающей территории – не только грандиозен в архитектурном и инфраструктурном плане, но и инвестиционно привлекателен.Присутствующая на встрече представитель одной из зарубежных инвестиционных групп, действующих на территории Кыргызстана,НазираБейшеналиева рассказала, что еще несколько лет назад под него находились инвесторы, готовые вкладывать свои средства. Есть заинтересованные лица и сейчас.

Мэр выразил живую заинтересованность всеми презентованными проектами и попросил архитектора представить свое видение некоторых других городских объектов. Архитектор, в свою очередь, поблагодарил градоначальника за встречу и подарил ему альбом «Лучшие площади мира». Помимо этого, вместе они просмотрели иллюстрации креативных остановок и «мобильных» сортиров, предлагаемых зарубежными дизайнерами.
Любопытный момент произошел уже по завершению встречи. Юрий Смирнов рассказал, что буквально перед его офисом находится небольшой скверик, который, якобы, уже кем-то выкуплен, но кроме деревьев и куч мусора на нем до сих пор ничего нет. Архитектор обращался к местным жителям - облагородить этот клочок зелени, но ответной реакции так и не получил. Мэр предложил всем присутствующим выйти и осмотреть скверик.

Омуркулов лично убедился, что этот небольшой участок земли в удручающем состоянии - пожухлая трава, необработанные, кучи мусора, лежаки бомжей и т.д. Мэр пообещал выяснить, кому принадлежит этот участок, и что здесь можно сделать. Примечательно, что буквально через 15 минут после отъезда градоначальника к скверу подъехал бус с чиновниками мэрии, которые уже в рабочем порядке начали изучать состояние участка.

Apples still cheapest fruit in Kyrgyzstan
In the markets and bazaars of Kyrgyzstan on the eve of New Year holidays, the most numerous and affordable fruit were apples which, according to a rough estimate, cost 30 Kyrgyz soms (19.26 rubles) per kilogram on average.

It should be remembered that this year has been very successful for the local growers - apple trees literally bent to the ground under the weight of an abundant harvest. Moreover, the fruits themselves appeared to be very juicy and good flavour was reported this season.
Read more (http://www.freshplaza.com/news_detail.asp?id=104487)

Kyrgyz oil traders predict decrease in high octane gasoline price
Kyrgyz oil traders predict a decrease in the price of high octane gasoline in the second half of January, KyrTAG news agency reported on Tuesday.

"A reduction in the price for high octane gasoline is being discussed. It is quite possible that in the second half of January this fuel will become cheaper by 30-50 tiyins per litre, that means prices will return to their previous level," Kyrgyz Oil Traders Association President Zhumakadyr Akeneev said.Read more (http://en.trend.az/regions/casia/kyrgyzstan/2105968.html)

mountain's of Kyrgyzstan
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tower Burana
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lake Chatyr-kol
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Issyk-Kul
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Bishkek city
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