Kyrgyzstan

[hakz2007]

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/90...1/7108850.html

[hakz2007]

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

[hakz2007]

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

[hakz2007]

Obama-Otunbayeva Meeting Could Determine Manas Fuel-Supply Issue

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

[hakz2007]

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

[hakz2007]

US Military Base in Kyrgyzstan Threatened with Closure

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

[hakz2007]

Kyrgyzstan receives international fund to repair riot damage

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/kyr...n/1774494.html

[hakz2007]

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/...108652714.html

[hakz2007]

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

[hakz2007]

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/...7/newsbrief-09

[hakz2007]

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

[hakz2007]

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

[hakz2007]

Kyrgyzstan's prices increase by 6.8 percent since early 2011

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/kyr...n/1887454.html

[hakz2007]

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

[japanese001]

image hosted on flickr

Men Competing In A Horse Game For National Day, Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan by Eric Lafforgue, on Flickr

[hakz2007]

Kyrgyz agriculture minister resigned

Kyrgyz Minister of Agriculture and Land Reclamation Saparbek Tynaev resigned, KirTAG reported on Tuesday.

Read more

[japanese001]

image hosted on flickr

Kyrgyzstan - 7 by ashlamand, on Flickr

[Singidunum]

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.

[Singidunum]

Столичный градоначальник обсудил проекты «будущего Бишкека» с молодым архитектором





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.

[hakz2007]

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.

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