Bishkek, 5 December 1996 (RFE/RL) - A NATO delegation is holding talks in Bishkek with top officials of the armed forces and the Defense and Foreign Ministries. Our correspondent reports the NATO delegation today plans talks on NATO's "Partnership for Peace" program. "Partnership" exercises are being planned for next Autumn in Central Asia.
Another Savings Protest Scheduled
Another rally is planned this month in Bishkek by people who lost savings in the collapse of Kyrgyzstan state banks. Rally organizer told our correspondent today that protesters will demand President Askar Akayev sign a law passed in the Legislative Assembly in October.
Under the law, the government should restore, over a ten-year period, the lost savings of people who had deposited their money in state banks. The law would require tens of millions of dollars each year, but the government says it can only allocate a fraction of the amount needed.
The first big rally by those who have lost savings was staged in September.