Askar Beshimov, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kyrgyz Republic: “From the point of view of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, this year is very important for us: Even if many serious questions have not been solved, they will be noted and discussed.  In October, the positioning of Russia regarding the WTO will be made clear, as well as the formation of the customs union within the framework of our states. Kyrgyzstan, certainly, hopes for the development of trade and economic cooperation, and for the subsequent development of the supply of the goods and services. Investment access will directly depend on the WTO rules and the rules of the market. Therefore, we have mechanisms for protecting and encouraging capital and other investment within the EvrAzES framework.”

Leonid Sklyarov, Adviser of the Russian Federation Embassy in the Kyrgyz Republic: “During former regime, relations functioned in a knotted and formal way. We declared our services and our work, but in some cases everything ended with empty words. Now Russia is trying to move relations to the political level and, as we can see, is applying effort to this process….

Russia considers Kyrgyzstan as a real strategic partner, which has important strategic position here. It is no secret that there is a big struggle in Central Asia and around Kyrgyzstan, though it is not that visible on the surface. Naturally, Russia takes into account all these factors and it has its own interests here, which it wants to realize. However, these interests are not meant to counterbalance either Kyrgyzstan, or the whole of Central Asia.”

Valentin Bogatyrev, Director of the International Institute of Strategic Studies under the President of the Kyrgyz Republic: “I have quite a skeptical opinion on the possibility of partnership with Russia. Any partnership assumes that both sides are occupied with some kind of common cause, and this business is located neither in Russia, nor in Kyrgyzstan. Without this or that side, it is impossible to do it. Is there anything in our relations with Russia that would meet such a criterion? No. Moreover, when I think what Russia is doing here, in my opinion, it has neither a strategic, nor economic, nor military interest in Kyrgyzstan. Interest in Kyrgyzstan arises only when we come out of the global paradigm of Russian regional influence, and there is a necessity to place a military base here. If we leave aside the context of Russian regional influence, then Kyrgyzstan as such does not represent any interest.” 

Date: June 9, 2006.

Place: Institute for Public Policy

Speakers:

1.    Askar Beshimov, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kyrgyz Republic

2.    Kubanychbek Oruzbaev, Deputy Minister of Defense of the Kyrgyz Republic

3.    Ishenbay Abdurazakov, Chairman of the Supervisory Council of the public fund for political research “Project of the Future”

4.    Leonid Sklyarov, Adviser of the Russian Federation Embassy in the Kyrgyz Republic

5.    Valentin Bogatyrev, Director of the International Institute of Strategic Studies under the President of the Kyrgyz Republic

6.    Erlan Abdyldaev, former Ambassador of the Kyrgyz Republic to China

7.    Almaz Biybosunov, Director of the public fund for political research “Project of the Future”

Chair: Muratbek Imanaliev, President of the IPP

The full version of the transcript is available here.

Related: Roundtable Transcript: Cooperation between China and Kyrgyzstan after March 24, 2005