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<head><title> Kyrgyz News </title> </head>
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<center><h1><b> KYRGYZ NEWS (April 8-April 15, 1996)</b></h1>
<H2><i> - at Sanjar's homepage- </i> </h2> </center>
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Kyrgyz News Digest On-Line (C) Kyrgyz American School<p>
Editors: Edil Baissaloff --edil@kaf.freenet.bishkek.su--<p>
Bolot Kerimbaev --bolot@kaf.freenet.bishkek.su--<p>
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Please forward the Digest to anyone who might be interested in it!<p>
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April 8 - 15, 1996<p>
C O N T E N T S<p>
Chronicles<p>
Useful Information<p>
Acknowledgements<p>
Sources<p>
Subscription Information<p>
C H R O N I C L E S
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The OSCE senior commissioner on national minorities, Max van Der Stool, was
on his fourth working visit in Kyrgyzstan on April 5-9. During his trip to
the southern part of the country, Mr. Van Der Stool participated in
conducting research on interethnic relations in the Fergana valley.
(Res: April 5, 1996)
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On April 6, in the Palace of Culture that belongs to the Lenin factory, the
communist party of Kyrgyzstan, the Slavonic Fund and the Veterans'Council,
presented a new movement "For the Peoples' Union and Brotherhood". This
organization seeks reestablishment of the Soviet Union.
(Res: April 5, 1996)
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The President of the Slovak Republic, Michael Kovach, will be in Kyrgyzstan
for an official visit on April 15-16. Seventy five Slovak entrepreneurs
accompanying him will meet with their Kyrgyz counterparts.
(Res: April 5, 1996)
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On April 5, representatives of the World Bank, the National Bank of the KR
and of donor countries met in Bishkek to discuss reforms in the financial
and banking system funded by the World Bank and the donor countries. A
special program, FIN SAC, was established to assist local banks in their
restructuring and acquiring new methods of accounting and financial services.
Ms. Ainur Sumer, one of the resident representatives of the World Bank in
Kyrgyzstan, appraised the National Bank's management skills and said that
with such a young professional team and attitude that differs it from that of
other central banks in the region, the Kyrgyz government may launch quite
ambitious reforms.
(Res: April 5, 1996)
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The Fourth Kurultai of the Turkic Nations took place in Ankara on March
24-26. Representatives of 29 of them participated and listened to more than
95 speeches concerning cultural, linguistic and economic aspects of
cooperation. The Kurultai worked out several principles on which mutual
relations among the nations should be based. They are: a)mutual respect of
sovereignity, b)non-intervention in internal problems, c)the principle of
mutuality during talks and reaching agreement, d)the principle of equality.
Seven large countries were identified as being the most important for the
future success of the Turkic community: Russia, USA, UK, France, Germany,
China and Japan. Representatives of the Turkish Republic suggested that the
Kurultai should send an official letter to the United Nations demanding
acceptance of the Turkish language as the sixth working language of the UN
and other world organizations. They based their arguments on the assertion
that the Turkic nations have more than 200 mln. in people and are spread from
the Mediterrian to the Pacific Ocean. A big argument arose about what is an
official language of literature; many rejected Turkish as one for themselves
and said that their own languages are independent from Turkish that is not
on of its dialects.
(Res: April 5, 1996)
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>From now on all foreign investments and credits will be directed into
concrete projects in different sections of the economy not into social
programs, food imports or governmental projects.
(SK: April 9-10, 1996)
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Prices in Osh and Jalal Abad regions went up sharply after Kyrgyzstan
entered the Customs Union. Most consumer products are brought here from
neighboring Uzbek provinces. Uzbek customs increased their control of
transit products and bazaar people say that the tariffs of bribes also
increased.
(SK: April 9-10, 1996)
<p>
A representative from the Russian Customs Services arrived in Bishkek. He
will have his own office and become a first deputy of the Kyrgyz customs
inspection. According to the Customs Union, agreements customs organizations
have to exchange representatives for better cooperation.
(VB: April 11, 1996)
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On April 9, 13 of the highest state and government officials met at the first
National Security Council to discuss army problems. Gen. Subanov, the
defense minister, reported on call-up, health and social problems of
soldiers. The council noted many shortcomings in the work of the Ministry,
and suggested that it should cooperate with the Ministries of education and
Health to better the quality of soldiers.
(VB: April 11, 1996)
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On April 11-12, the Prime Minister, Apas Djumagulov, participated in the
meeting of the CIS heads of governments. More than 20 issues were discussed.
Among them: "The project of perspective plan on integrational development
until 2000", "Mutual cooperation to fight organized crime", energy
resources, and oil and gas transit. The Russian Federation will assist
Kyrgyzstan's restoring of Soviet systems of air defense.
(SK: April 13-14, 1996)
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The Ministry of Foreign Affairs officially denied rumors of Chengiz
Aitmatov's possible running for the UN Secretary General's office. Several
members of the Jogorku Kenesh suggested it last week. Aitmatov is the
Ambassador to Belgium and the most prominent Kyrgyz writer.
(SK: April 11-12, 1996)
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The president appointed a new Minister of Internal Affairs, Omurbek Kutuev.
The newspaper writes that he is a professional who previously headed
Bishkek's militia.
(VB: April 12, 1996)
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Kurman Ait (Kurban Bairam), one of the most widely celebrated Muslim
holidays, this year comes on Sunday, April 28. :(
(VB: April 12, 1996)
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Askar Sarygulov, the head of the State Committee of Foreign Investments, was
appointed as head of the State Property Fund. It is curious, that he didn't
lose control of his old work and all other state agencies that deal with
international credits and private investors by simple inclusion of them under
the Fund's supervision.
(VB: April 12, 1996)
<p>
The head of one of the departments of the Ministry of Industries and Trade,
Karybai Turusbekov, denounced official practices of the Finance Ministry in
calculating the amount of external debt owed by Kyrgyzstan. According to
January estimates by the Finance Ministry, Kyrgyzstan owed to various
international organizations and donor coutnries $487,7 mln. By March it was
about $499 mln. Mr. Turusbekov says that it actually amounts to $937 mln.
The Finance Ministry says that difference in calculations exists because it
counts only those credits already actually received and doesn't rely on
the amounts that are mentioned in different agreements signed by Kyrgyzstan.
Turusbekov thinks that the Government is counting only resources that came
from the international financial organization and not all of the technical
credits that come in forms other than cash. Thus the government always says
that we don't really have much when opposition members challenge Akaev with
"How useful were all those credits that all world gave under your name?
(VB: April 12, 1996)
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C U R I O U S F A C T S
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According to the "Merck, Sharp and Doem" representatives that came to Bishkek
to investigate possibilities of importing to Kyrgyzstan medical products,
medicines cost to the average Kyrgyzstani about 60% more than to an American.
For example, in the United States a monthly treatment of "Mevakor" costs
$24 whereas in Kyrgyzstan it is 450 soms. These medicines are usually
supplied by "shopping" tourists.
(SK: April 9-10, 1996)
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Kyrgyz commercial banks are lobbying the government and the National Bank to
allow them to open anoymous accounts. This is regarded by some observers as
a step further towards Kyrgyzstan's becoming the second Switzerland while
as others remind that this practice is no more followed in developed
countries. Kyrgyzstan is already a big spot on the Narco map. Will it
become also a famous place for dirty dollars?
(VB: April 8, 1996)
<p>
Among the twenty first people to become Soviet cosmounats, was Mars Raffikov,
who was born in Kyrgyzstan. He now lives in Almaty.
(VB: April 12, 1996)
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The amount of gas supply to Bishkek TETS is short. This year, according to
the newspaper, there will be no hot water from mid-April till September.
(VB: April 12, 1996)
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U S E F U L I N F O R M A T I O N
<p>
----- Purchase-------- Sale<p>
US Dollar 11.62 ----------11.66<p>
Deutsch Mark 7.78 -------- 8.03<p>
Russian Ruble 441---------- 433<p>
Kazak Tenge 0.172 --------0.177<p>
Uzbek Sum 0.21 --------- 0.24<p>
A C K N O W L E D G E M E N T S<p>
Idea ------- Dean Camilla Sharshekeeva<p>
Advisor ------- Dr. John Clark<p>
Internet ------- Freenet (IREX): Igor Aronov, Jonathan Korn<p>
S O U R C E S<p>
SK=Slovo Kyrgyzstana
VB=Vecherniy Bishkek
SG=Svobodnye Gory
DV=Dlya Vas
Res=Res Publica
KPK=Komsomolskaya Pravda v Kirgizii
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