Wednesday, February 15, 2012

Kyrgyzstan

U.S. Welcomes New Kyrgyz Constitution

Bishkek residents celebrating the new constitution on November 9 (RFE/RL)

November 10, 2006 -- The United States has praised Kyrgyz President Kurmanbek Bakiev's decision to sign a new constitution for his Central Asian country.

TEXT SIZE - +

November 10, 2006

State Department spokesman Gonzalo Gallegos said the United States welcomes the peaceful, negotiated settlement of the political dispute that led to the constitution's adoption.

The constitution reduces the powers of the Kyrgyz presidency and gives parliament more control over the appointment of a government.

The document indicates Bakiev will remain in office until his five-year term expires in 2010, although it is not clear how his legal powers will be affected.

(AFP)

Understanding Kyrgyzstan

Workers preparing for celebrations of the constitutional compromise in Bishkek on November 9 (RFE/RL)

A STABLE FOUNDATION? On November 9, RFE/RL's Washington office hosted a briefing featuring RFE/RL Kyrgyz Service Director Tyntchtykbek Tchoroev and RFE/RL analyst Daniel Kimmage.

LISTEN

Listen to the complete discussion (about 80 minutes):
Real Audio Windows Media

Parliament Adopts Constitution Curtailing Presidential Powers

Crisis Deepens After President Proposes Constitutional Changes

Bishkek Prepares For Large Opposition Rally

Economic Reforms Seem Stalled

Photo Gallery Of November 9 Protests

A vendor in the central Bosnian town of Zenica sells heart-shaped cushions with proclamations of love for 1 euro each.

Love It (Or Hate It), It's Valentine's Day

Valentine's Day, the Western holiday celebrating love, has become a global phenomenon over the past two decades. The fall of communism and the emergence of the Internet have helped February 14 become something of an unofficial international day of romance. However, not all the passions the holiday stirs are related to love. While some countries have openly embraced the holiday, others are attempting to ban it or replace it with local customs. More

Production and distribution of rap music is not officially banned, but it

Yo! Turkmen Rappers Flip The Script On Repression

For a growing number of Turkmen youth, rap music has become a way to express their daily struggles and inspire political change in one of the world's most oppressive countries. More