26.02.2009 The main results of Kyrgyzstan’s foreign policy
On December 24, 2008, the Institute for Public Policy held a roundtable on “The main results of Kyrgyzstan’s foreign policy.” Leading experts in the country's foreign policy participated in the roundtable; giving their assessment of the most important foreign policy events of 2008.
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19.02.2009 The after-taste of the financial crisis in the relationship of Central Asia and Russia
“Concerning the recent Russian and Central-Asian political and economic processes, the dynamics and emphasis from one side and a misunderstanding from the other, will force Kremlin to articulate more precisely its own interests in the region,” says the article by Eduard Poletaev, a political scientist from Kazakhstan. This article is being presented to you by IPP.
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11.02.2009 “The process of foreign policy decision-making: Kyrgyzstan and the experiences of other countries.”
On September 30, 2008, the Bishkek Press Club (BPC) held a round table on “The process of foreign policy decision-making: Kyrgyzstan and the experiences of other countries” with the participation of Muratbek Imanaliev, the President of the Institute for Public Policy (IPP); Erlan Abdyldaev, director of the IWPR office in Kyrgyzstan; and participants of the school of International Journalism.
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09.02.2009 The Uzbekistan factor in the foreign policy strategy of the Kyrgyz Republic
IPP offers readers an article by the famous Kyrgyz political analyst, Valentin Bogatyrev, on the Kyrgyz-Uzbek relationship.
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30.01.2009 Diplomacy and economic security of Kyrgyzstan
The second half of the twentieth century brought new actors, as subjects of international life, to the world stage. There are many reasons for this phenomenon; among which, one should probably mention the achievements of science and technology, economic development, primary impulses of globalization, and the democratization of international relations. All of which, have triggered the formation of public diplomacy. Global and regional international organizations of various types, transnational corporations, nongovernmental and public organizations joined the classical players in international relations - governments and states. It should be stressed that they are not always dependent on governments; sometimes it may be vice versa. And today “vice versa” happens more often.
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28.01.2009 Kyrgyzstan - USA: Do we need each other?
IPP offers readers an article by Muratbek Imanaliev, the president of the Institute for Public Policy, on the Kyrgyz-US relations at its current stage.
The first and main question is “How do we position each other within our own state policies, public opinion and understanding of the interests of each other?” Objective determination of the places occupied by the two countries in the world politics and economy, is as follows: USA and Kyrgyzstan are at opposite poles. The United States is the first power of the world in all respects, while Kyrgyzstan is one of the poorest countries on the planet. Besides, the countries are not in the same system of operating coordinates. I speak primarily about values and priorities, of course, excluding declarations.
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27.01.2009 Kyrgyz-Chinese relations at the present stage
Political cooperation between Kyrgyzstan and China during this period was characterized by positive interaction and stable dynamics of visits at various levels. This has gradually led to an atmosphere of mutual understanding and trust. The trade turnover has been steadily growing; a new transportation infrastructure was created, while the old one has been improved; and cooperation between the two countries in other fields has also reached a significant level.
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27.10.2008 Kyrgyzstan and WTO: 10 years later
It will be 10 years on 20th December 2008 since the Kyrgyz Republic became a member of the World Trade Organization (WTO). During this period, crucial changes took place, not only in the world trade system, but in the economic space of the Commonwealth of Indepdent States (CIS). Five more countries of the former Soviet Union became members of the WTO. Other countries of the CIS, including our main trade partners – Russia, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan are in different stages of the negotiation process with the WTO. Thus, predictable trade zones are being created in the CIS territory and the principles of trade free from discrimination are being introduced.
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21.10.2008 Kyrgyz-European relations in the context of the EU Strategy for Central Asia
The latest edition of the Foreign Policy Concept of Kyrgyzstan calls the “European direction” one of its highest priorities, along with the promotion of national brands. However, it seems that it was merely establishing the indisputable fact of the immense role of the European Union in world politics, instead of the actual adherence to national interests; which ideally should have been the central point of such a document. Of course, in the current geopolitical (and geo-economic) situation, with the EU becoming one of the most influential international actors with diverse extra-regional interests, such an orientation towards the European Union, significantly justifies itself. However, in this context, the realization of national interests of Kyrgyzstan should be expressed, not in a blind adherence to global trends, but in constructive and meaningful development in the cooperation with the European Union.
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15.10.2008 Central Asian Integration: Myth or Reality?
Integration processes in contemporary Central Asia are experiencing crises despite the continuing attempts by the leaders of individual states and powers outside the Central Asian region to resume them and give them new format and content. Thus, it is possible to conclude that the region has not been able to develop into a consolidated political and economic community over the past few years.
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08.10.2008 A View from Kyrgyzstan on the Future of the CIS
Seventeen years after the December day in Belovejskaya Pusha, when the leaders of three Soviet republics of the USSR signed an agreement on the establishment of the Commonwealth of Independent States, the question of what the CIS is, remains unanswered. The future of this organization also seems unpredictable, because for more than fifteen years, it is comprised of countries that have nothing in common, except for the fact that they were all former republics of the Soviet Union; an organization that is no longer in existence.
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30.09.2008 Can Central Asia become a geopolitical and cultural-religious intermediary between Europe and the Islamic world?
Before considering Central Asia as a geopolitical and cultural-religious intermediary between the Islamic world and Europe, one must know the potential Central Asian states have, collectively and individually, to carry out this very difficult mission.
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12.09.2008 For the First Time, Central Asia is Facing Real Foreign Policy Problems
The Central Asian states became independent in an era of real unipolarity characterized by the complete dominance of the United States in the global political and military space.
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25.07.2008 Overview of foreign policy of the Kyrgyz Republic
IPP presents Overview of Kyrgyzstan’s foreign policy for the first six months of 2008.
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22.07.2008 Kazakhstan – Kyrgyzstan: state and perspectives of a strategic partnership
On June 26th 2008, the Institute for Public Policy held a round table on “Kazakhstan – Kyrgyzstan: state and perspectives of a strategic partnership” together with the Institute for World Economics and Politics with the Fund of the First President of Kazakhstan. The round table brought together representatives of government structures, researchers and experts in economics and foreign policy.
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10.06.2008 CENTRAL ASIA AS A SUBJECT OF INTERNATIONAL LIFE
A short history of the formation and development of international relations in Central Asia can conditionally be divided into the following five chronological stages. This paper does not aim at analyzing or evaluating foreign policy activities of each country of the region but aims at identifying the major tendencies of international life in former Soviet Middle Asia. The country analysis in this paper concerns non-Central Asian states too since their individual or joint efforts provide important and factual material for understanding the place and significance of Central Asia in the contemporary world. The problems of constructing an original worldview by regional states will be covered in the subsequent lecture sessions.
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19.02.2008 Mitigation the criminal law in Central Asian countries
Human rights experts of Central Asia have already recognized 2008 as the year when the region has become a zone free from capital punishment. The last country in Central Asia that abolished capital punishment’s application as an exclusive form of punishment was Uzbekistan. On January 1st this year the law was adopted and this country de jure rejected this form of punishment. The process of abolition of the strictest punishment in international practice was taking place within the humanization of criminal legislation, provided by the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, to which all countries of the region joined at different times.
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14.02.2008 A perspective for Central Asia to become a bridge between Asia and Europe
As for the future models of identity at the international stage, Central Asian states have two variants for development: they will join a functioning system or the one that is being formed (many depend on what will be offered from outside and how it will be presented) or they will construct their own variant of civilizational appearance.
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26.12.2007 Parliamentary elections in Kyrgyzstan: 10 days later
The parliamentary elections 2007 are now over. The names of the next speaker, his deputies, and the new structure of the Jogorku Kenesh were announced on December 24.
The majority voted for Adahan Madumarov, the former state secretary, as the speaker of the parliament. 79 deputies out of 87 voted for him. 8 people’s representatives voted “against.” It has to be noted that the former state secretary was the only candidate for the position of speaker. The Party of Communists of Kyrgyzstan and the Social-Democratic Party of Kyrgyzstan rejected to propose their candidates, referring to the fact that their votes will not make a difference.
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08.12.2007 Perspectives to establish the Union of Central Asian states
On the initiative of the Embassy of Kazakhstan to the Kyrgyz Republic, the round-table on the topic “Perspectives for establishing a Central Asian Union” was held at the Institute for Public Policy on November 15, 2007. Leading specialists in the fields of international relations and economics, representatives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, diplomatic missions from Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Belorussia in the Kyrgyz Republic, political scientists and independent experts participated in the round-table. The meeting was dedicated to discussing the draft of the concept of creating a Union of Central Asian states (UCAS).
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03.11.2007 Analysis of Foreign Policy of the Kyrgyz Republic for July – September 2007
The third quarter of 2007 was a very important period for the Kyrgyz government. A number of high level and important international events were held which strengthened the government’s position in international affairs and enabled it to develop its foreign policy. The main event for Kyrgyz foreign policy, not only in the third quarter but also in the whole year, was the SCO summit. The summit was held in Bishkek on 16-17 of August.
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04.10.2007 The Security Problems in Asia: The Role of CICA
The results of the Second World War created some serious and deep “fractures” on the political map of the world that were accompanied with the unlimited armament drive, military conflicts and political rivalry in all global and regional forums, including the United Nations. At the same time, in Europe, which was the source of two world wars with the main marking line, there were serious discussions on the possible formation of the collective security system on the basis of the Yalta-Potsdam agreements, which defined the inviolability of borders between European states in the post-war period.
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18.09.2007 Water and energy for stability and peace in South-Eastern Central Asia
The livelihood of roughly 22 million persons in Central Asia depends on water. 1.5 billion dollars get lost in South-Eastern Central Asia because of bad water management.
Water is a non-substitutable resource. The production of energy based on water is ten times less costly than production of energy based on oil, gas or coal. After the production of electricity the water is still drinkable, while oil, gas, and coal are transformed into CO2 with negative environmental impact. Kyrgyzstan’s 7821 glaciers contain 700 billion cubic meters of water.
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28.07.2007 Analysis of Foreign Policy of the Kyrgyz Republic for April-June 2007
Foreign policy activity of Kyrgyzstan visibly increased in the second quarter of 2007 compared to the previous period. This was largely determined by certain stabilization of the internal political situation in the country after targeted actions undertaken by the authorities on splitting political opposition and failure of the April rallies led by the United Front. As a result of upheavals in internal political struggle President Bakiev managed to consolidate his positions and acquire necessary maneuver and freedom of actions before the most important foreign policy event of the year - Summit of the Heads of State of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization
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10.07.2007 Strategy of the European Union for Central Asia: Pro et Contra
A Strategy for a new partnership with Central Asia, adopted by the EU’s supreme body, the European Council on 22 June 2007, resulted from the relevant initiative in the framework of Germany’s chairmanship in the EU. The strategy was presented in Berlin on 30 June 2007 and was accepted positively enough, in particular, in the countries to which it was addressed. The document’s title sounds serious and promising. What is the strategy about, and what can we expect from this?
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06.07.2007 Afghanistan: The Current Situation and Its Impact on Security in Central Asia
Military-political instability in Afghanistan reached an extremely high level and remains one of the main factors determining the state of security in the whole region of Southern and Central Asia. Moreover, in comparison with a lingering confrontation between the Northern alliance and the Taliban (peculiar to the second half of 1990s and till October 2001) the newest situation in terms of intra-afghan stability and regional security is significantly less predictable. Today the Taliban fully control almost the whole range of the South-Eastern and Southern provinces, permitting official administrations to exist only in cities.
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16.06.2007 On Certain Aspects of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization
One of the main problems of the SCO is a certain non-compliance with the declared principles of cooperation both within the organization and the states and organizations outside of it. In particular, the issue of one of the main principles of the SCO is that of transparency. At present the SCO established cooperation with the EC, ASEAN, CSTO, EurAzEC and other international organizations. However, experts highlight the fact that there are not still serious contacts with the U.S. and NATO, which took the responsibility for development of the situation in and the fate of Afghanistan, which is the most topical security issue in Central Asia.
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13.06.2007 Kyrgyzstan and Central Asia Today
A scholarly conference entitled “Kyrgyzstan and Central Asia today”, dated for the 70th anniversary of Ishenbai Abdurazakov, a prominent statesman, public figure and diplomat, was held at the Institute for Public Policy on June 9, 2007. Foreign policy problems of Kyrgyzstan and Central Asia were discussed during the conference. Speakers raised such issues as the future activities of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), problems of Kyrgyzstan’s relations with major powers, the situation in Afghanistan and its impact on the states of Central Asia and other issues.
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09.06.2007 The State and Prospects of Kyrgyz-American Relations
On June 4, 2007 a round table discussion on the state and prospects of the Kyrgyz-American relations was held at the Institute for Public Policy. This discussion became a continuation of a series of round table discussions held by the Institute on the issues of bilateral relations of Kyrgyzstan with foreign partners. The previous round table discussions were devoted to the Kyrgyz-Chinese and Kyrgyz-Russian relations.
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06.06.2007 Central Asia: Renewal of Legends
The “Big World” came to Central Asia with its own projects and concepts such as the “Bigger Central Asia,” the Strategy of the European Union, a “Japan-Central Asia,” the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, and so on. To which philosophy should we related them, the Great Silk Road or the “Great Game?” Is it possible to make them compatible, in terms of reducing the potential for conflict and strengthening healthy competition? What is the role of Central Asian states in the these projects and concepts? These issues might seem naïve but they are certainly very topical for Central Asian states.
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29.05.2007 Situation around Ganci Airbase in Kyrgyzstan
On May 25, 2007 the Institute for Public Police hosted an expert discussion on the situation surrounding the Ganci Antiterrorist Airbase. IPP initiated the round table in light of the burgeoning debate over the conditions for the continued presence of U.S. troops on the base. In particular, on May 23, five parliamentary committees adopted resolutions recommending that parliament denounce the agreement on the airbase. In addition, several political parties made statements regarding the critical of presence of the Ganci Airbase on Kyrgyzstan’s territory.
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23.03.2007 Geopolitical Aspects of the Problem of Regional Integration in Central Asia
Regional integrationism along with such phenomena as dialogue between civilizations and globalism are the three main foundations upon which a new systemic construction of international relations is being built at present. In this context there is a certain modality of collective actions on the international scene. This is the conceptual and practical imperative, the challenge faced by the states of the international community. This challenge is of particular urgency for the so-called new independent states of Central Asia, which emerged from the post-Soviet area who recently marked the fifteenth anniversary of their independence.
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23.03.2007 Ambassador Grewlich on new EU strategy towards Central Asian states
On 23 March 2007 German Ambassador to the Kyrgyz Republic Dr. Klaus Grewlich met with representatives of academia, civil society and government agencies at the Institute for Public Policy. In his speech Ambassador Grewlich outlined major points regarding the strategy of the EU towards Central Asian countries, currently under preparation. As Ambassador noted, the new EU strategy will be based on three interlinked twined components: security/stability, rule of law and development.
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01.03.2007 Kyrgyz Foreign Policy Priorities in 2007
The Institute for Public Policy held a round table on the topic: "Kyrgyz foreign policy priorities in 2007". A number of experts on foreign policy, politics and diplomats took part at the round table. The moderator, the President of the Institute for Public Policy Muratbek Imanaliev said in his welcoming speech that in 2007, the country's leadership will undergo several important tests of foreign policy. Firstly, is the SCO summit organization which will be held in Bishkek in 2007. Secondly, this year authorities should normalize Kyrgyz-American relations, which have significantly deteriorated in recent years, and direct relations to a more constructive course. Thirdly, Kyrgyz leadership should work out consistent policy toward Central Asian countries, taking into account current domestic policy developments the respective countries.
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09.02.2007 The SCO Summit 2007: Opportunities for Kyrgyzstan
On February 9, 2007 the Institute for Public Policy (IPP) hosted a roundtable discussion "The SCO Summit 2007: Opportunities for Kyrgyzstan." Attending the closed expert discussion, moderated by Muratbek Imanaliev, IPP President, were Tolondu Makeev, Kyrgyz national coordinator for Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), Erlan Abdyldaev, foreign policy expert of IPP, Ishenbai Abdrazakov, chair of Observers board of the Foundation for Political Research «The Project of Future» and Andrey Filatov, deputy of Bishkek city council.
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06.02.2007 IPP Quarterly Report on Foreign Policy
Chairmanship of Kyrgyzstan over the SCO and the scheduled SCO Summit this summer in Bishkek will have a significant influence on Kyrgyzstan’s foreign policy in 2007. According to a number of experts, in general, the influence of external factors on Kyrgyzstan will probably increase in 2007, and the leadership of the country will have to make difficult decisions.
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02.02.2007 Central Asia and the World
“New Great Game” – a definition which is often used by political experts recently regarding the presence of leading powers in Central Asian region. How is the use of the term justified? Is there any reason to think that the convergence of Russian, American and Chinese interests in Central Asia is the “New Great Game”? Indeed all three powers have objective interests in the region: the U.S as super power has interests in every region of the world (in any case, Americans announce it themselves), and Russia and China are direct neighbors of Central Asia.
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23.01.2007 Institutional Aspects of Cooperation between Kyrgyzstan and the European Union: Unlearned Lessons
The partnership between Kyrgyzstan and the EU has lasted more than 15 years. The almost legendary TACIS program, which terminates in 2007, has also been established for the same amount of time. From now on, technical aid will be provided through the line of special strategy of the European Commission for Central Asia.. Despite mutual attempts, they did not manage to move beyond simple aid packages and advance to the next level of developmental support. Kyrgyzstan did not use all the advantages of the PCA and its special partnership with the EU, continuing receiving grants from donors, including the EU, as it has during the past 15 years.
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09.01.2007 Certain Aspects of Kyrgyzstan’s Foreign Policy in 2006
Regrettably, the year 2006 has not become a year of stabilization of the internal political situation in Kyrgyzstan. “Stable instability,” heightened political tension was noted as before, the struggle for power continued with the help of various techniques and methods, including “square democracy” and “matrioshka-gate”, which became internationally known. At the end of the year, in November-December, political tension reached its zenith, having led to unjustifiably swift change of the Constitution, which in the end due to multiple legal conflicts in the new wording of the country’s Basic Law and explicit lack of mutual good will among both conflicting sides, led to the resignation of the Cabinet and questioned further existence of the current membership of parliament. These developments on the eve of the New Year again put the country before another political crisis, and the forecasted exacerbation of the situation, which will certainly accompany possible parliamentary elections and the process of forming a new Cabinet, now will obviously leap over the year 2007.
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08.12.2006 The SCO as a Project for a Zone of Mutual Responsibility and Development
Definition of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization’s geographic zone is quite easy –the territories of its member states. However, it is clear that such a geographical definition cannot be considered as the SCO’s zone of interests. Obviously, the organization’s interests include Central Asia, and possibly the southern adjacent neighbors of Central Asia, primarily Afghanistan. In this context, not only China and Russia have interests in Central Asia, but also the U.S.
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24.11.2006 The Policy of Kyrgyzstan towards NATO: Effective Partnership or Half-Hearted Friendship?
Besides the classical triangle, Russia-China-USA, experts are referring to other possible prospects for partnership with the European Union, Turkey, the Arabic world through the Organization of the Islamic Conference, and Iran. In this context, it is indicative that such an influential organization as NATO, which has successfully transformed itself from a regional force into an alliance of global scale and which is expanding not only geographically but also thematically, has not been taken into consideration.
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26.10.2006 Tough Politics: On Water Management in Central Asia
With each decade, the issue of water provision in Central Asia becomes more and more critical.The highest risk is that, with the growth of the demand for water and its shortage for the economies of the states in the region, it will be used more often for political means. Regarding lands and borders, the governments will soon reach an agreement. For now however, the controversial capacity of water issues still remains a stumbling block in the relations of neighboring countries.
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24.10.2006 Pragmatic Foreign Policy Must Also Be Consistent
There has been a noticeable change in foreign policy discourse. Former President Akaev used to put strong emphasis on certain liberal and egalitarian values in foreign policy in the form of his Silk Road Diplomacy. This rhetoric has since changed. The current Foreign Minister, Jekshenkulov, named pragmatism as one of the features that differentiate new the foreign policy concept from the previous one. However, the question of whether the specific pragmatic moves have been resulting in better foreign policy outcomes remains open.
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21.10.2006 The «Jubilee» of the Chinese- Kyrgyz -Uzbek Railroad
Their was a particular urgency about the issue for Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan and China in the latter half of 1990s. It was on the agenda for negotiations at various levels between the three states including the top leadership. At the same time, the parties have made numerous declarations highlighting the launch of the “project of the century”. Though they never started or even approached constructing the main railway. This lack of progress piques a natural interest both in the states involved in the project, the neighboring states and those states with political, economic and other interests in Central Asia. What is the reason behind this protracted process? Is there the possibility of eventually turning the idea into reality?
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16.10.2006 Aleksey Malashenko: “A Dialogue with Islamists is Inevitable for Central Asian States”
Struggle against terrorism and religious extremism has lately become a topical issue in Kyrgyzstan, in light of series of special operations of law enforcement agencies in the south of the country. Several alleged militants as well as Imam from the Karasuu Mosque were killed during these operations. On this topic the IPP has interviewed Dr. Aleksey Malashenko, Scholar-in-Residence at the Carnegie Moscow Center, and a well-known specialist on Islam in post-soviet states.
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25.09.2006 Kyrgyzstan – Uzbekistan: Escaping the Paradigm of Confrontation
Even for those who still cannot think outside of Soviet stereotypes about Central Asia as a region where all resident ethnicities live in friendship, the phenomenon of post-soviet intraregional isolation of Uzbekistan has become an unquestionable fact, though perhaps less obvious than in case of Turkmenistan. A vital state for Central Asia has managed to spoil relations with all its surrounding former Soviet neighbors.
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11.09.2006 Muratbek Imanaliev: “The Central Asian republics should not stand aside awaiting their role in the SCO”
Each time activities take place within the SCO, everyone is looking to clarify at least some of these questions, if not all. The upcoming meeting of Prime Ministers of the SCO states on September 15th in Dushanbe will not be an exception either. Although the competence of the Council of Heads of Governments primarily addresses economic cooperation, it is obvious that the heads of Cabinets of Ministers cannot ignore political and security issues.
However, even if we are to consider the SCO from the point of view of the Council of Prime Ministers, out of the coherent organizational sequence of “intentions-implementation-prospects,” today we clearly see and understand only two points: “intentions” and “prospects.”
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05.09.2006 Central Asia: Challenges and Responses
For the short history of independent development, the foreign policy benchmarks of the Central Asian states went through numerous changes, with various amplitudes and different content. Such oscillation is, in principle, justified by the lack of previous experience, the inability to design realistic foreign policy projects and develop corresponding technologies, and by specific discourses in the foreign policy of the main partner-state in the region. The principal question for the region is whether it is going to remain an object of foreign or other policy by developed countries and intergovernmental associations, or whether the states in the region will manage to unite efforts and significantly expand their real standing, not merely their formal legal status.
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15.08.2006 Forecasting the Domestic and Foreign Policy Development of Kyrgyzstan for Autumn, 2006
The determinant among domestic political factors is the lack of constructive democratic opposition in the country, which would be able to come up with real alternatives to the ruling regime. A simple comparison of political figures who represent the Government and the opposition demonstrates the lack of fundamental differences between them. Specific distinctions only relate to their different positions in the power pyramid, which, in all apparentness, is targeted to be overcome by new opposition leaders.
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11.08.2006 Central Asia or Middle Asia?
The CIS did not appear on December 8, 1991 in Belovejskaya Pusha. Actually, the process was triggered earlier, in 1989-1990 when, first in the Baltic Republics, and later in other states, including the RSFSR, people began talking about sovereignty and independence. December 8, 1991 is not so much the birthday of CIS, but rather a point of reference denoting the formalization of the process of disintegration of the empire, regulated in its main fragments. This is where the situation in the USSR differs from that of Yugoslavia.
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21.07.2006 Shanghai Cooperation Organization: The Chinese Perspective
At the moment, the Central Asian region is again in the center of the world community’s attention. The recent anniversary summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), which was held from June 14 to 15 in China, viewed by experts as an engine of the organization, makes it very topical to analyze Beijing’s policy towards the Central Asian states. It becomes obvious that the new-old actor in this field – the People’s Republic of China (PRC), which is gradually trying to state its interests openly, has begun aiming for the role of a regional leader. An adequate assessment of the current situation in Central Asia and prospects of its development is already impossible without analysis of the Chinese factor.
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17.07.2006 Globalization: The Central Asian Dimension
The choice of development path by the Central Asian states has been highly personified. By no means however we can ignore certain individual historical and cultural characteristics of the peoples, as well as geographic and ethno-psychological features of the states, which have undoubtedly influenced this choice of leadership. Therefore, basic approaches and concepts of development for all five states of the region differ from each other, and differ fundamentally in terms of the most important elements. However, they are not conflicting.
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28.06.2006 Roundtable Transcript: Kyrgyzstan and Russia at a New Stage of Cooperation
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.
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24.06.2006 The Chinese Vector in the Foreign Policy of Kurmanbek Bakiev
A certain evolution of the foreign policy views of Bakiev could be tracked through Kyrgyz-Chinese relations for the past year. During this period, Bakiev gradually moved from severe criticism of the foreign policy of the first President Akaev regarding China, to “expressing satisfaction with the successes achieved over the past 14 years” in Kyrgyz-Chinese relations, acknowledging all agreements and treaties that had been achieved, and committing to the continuation of past policy in the future.
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16.06.2006 Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan: From Eternal Friendship to Policy-Based Engagement
Following the 1996 Treaty on Eternal Friendship, several keystone events had a dramatic impact on public perceptions in Kyrgyzstan about Uzbekistan: the incursion of the Batken province by a group of Islamic militants in 1999 and 2000, the border delimitation crisis of 1999, the unsuccessful attempt by the two countries to swap enclave-surrounding territories in 2001, the introduction of a visa regime in 2000 and the Andijan events of 2005. Among the recurring issues that affect Kyrgyz public’s perceptions of Uzbekistan are the annual negotiations on Uzbek gas and fuel as well as talks on water and energy regulation. These issues have usually resulted in a negative imagery of Uzbekistan. Recurring border incidents which include landmine explosions, shootings, and physical assault of civilians by border troops of both countries have added to the atmosphere of tension.
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08.06.2006 What use does Kyrgyzstan have for Russia?
Few people in Russia ponder over the titular question of this article. By the highest standards, there are few Russians, especially those under 30, who could immediately name the capital city of Kyrgyzstan. I am convinced that when mention is made of a tiny state in Central Asia (and this generation is used to referring to this region as Sredniaia Azia, Middle Asia) older Russians will recall Chingiz Aitmatov, perhaps Issyk-kul…and that is it.
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03.06.2006 Roundtable Transcript: Cooperation between China and Kyrgyzstan after March 24, 2005
Erlan Abdyldaev (Former Ambassador of the Kyrgyz Republic to the People’s Republic of China): Failure of joint economic projects can be explained by the fact that this cooperation has been much politicized by both countries, as well as to a lack of good management, correct calculation of projects, and voluntarism in decision-making. Such a fate, as everybody knows, has grasped the Kyrgyz-Chinese paper-mill, match factories, etc. Large-scale politics is present even during the discussion of constructing the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway , and also of the export of Kyrgyz electrical power to China. Both projects concern not only sociopolitical aspects of two countries, but also political and economic interests of third countries.
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01.06.2006 Forthcoming: Expert Discussion on Kyrgyz-Russian Relations
Foreign policy experts and decision-makers gather to discuss the most salient issues in Kyrgyz-Russian bilateral relations. In light of ongoing US-Kyrgyz negotiations regarding the Gansi Air base and the forthcoming summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization on 15 June 2006, there is a clear need for a consistent and coherent policy towards each major foreign policy partner. The roundtable aims to assess the current status of Kyrgyz-Russian relations, problems and implications, and develop a set of recommendations for the Kyrgyz policy towards Russia.
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25.05.2006 ROUNDTABLE - Cooperation between China and Kyrgyzstan after March 24, 2005
On May 25 the Institute for Public Policy hosted a round table on “Cooperation between China and Kyrgyzstan after March 24, 2005”. Speakers of the roundtable were Kadyrbek Sarbaev, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kyrgyz Republic, Zhang Yannian, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of People’s Republic of China in the Kyrgyz Republic, Jeenbek Kulubaev, Deputy Executive Secretary of Shanghai Cooperation Organization, Valentin Bogatyrev, Director of International Institute for Strategic Studies under the President of the Kyrgyz Republic, and Erlan Abdyldaev, Former Ambassador of the Kyrgyz Republic to People’s Republic of China.
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10.05.2006 Foreign Policy: Kyrgyzstan Should Get Rid of Its Old Suits
The orientation on traditional power centers – Russia, China, and the U.S.A. – is a paradigm which generates confrontation in foreign policy, domestic policy, and socio-cultural policy. This problem should be resolved by exiting the triangle. It is possible only through formation of a new field of vectors unrelated to the old one. Such new field of vectors for Kyrgyzstan could be formed through developing relations with another troika: Europe (primarily Germany) – India – Japan. Today these states make claims as new world centers, or at least have grounds to join the leading world powers which define policies in the world.
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24.04.2006 Does the International Community Need Kyrgyzstan to the Same Extent As Our Country Needs the International Community?
The answer of the international community to this question is clear enough. But does Kyrgyzstan, or the new authorities, give a clear answer? No and no. Kyrgyzstan’s reputation indicator swiftly went down after 2000. The exceptionally important image of our country as an “island of democracy,” which was an enormous resource for Kyrgyzstan in its relationship with the developed world and neighboring states, was destroyed by the Kyrgyz authorities of that period. Kyrgyzstan’s credo as a democratic country in the early stage of development was not only actively supported by western governments, international organizations, and nongovernmental organizations, but also served in a way as a defense mechanism in fighting organized crime at the international level.
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19.04.2006 Kyrgyzstan - Kazakhstan: How to Build New Relations With an Old Friend?
If before, the calm, diplomatic facade concealed turbulent negotiations, if the mutual assurances of eternal friendship only disguised a chaotic policy of ad-hoc problem solving, now more than ever the day’s agenda should include Kyrgyzstan developing a new strategy in relation to the region’s superpower - Kazakhstan. Kumar Bekbolotov discusses the problem areas ob Kyrgyz-Kazakh bilateral relations.
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