10 June 1999
PRESIDENT AKAYEV TO VISIT TURKEY.
According to the presidential press service, President Askar Akayev received a group of Turkish businessmen led by Turgut Guer in Bishkek on 10 June. Several business projects in the agricultural sphere and small and family business, to be implemented by the Kyrgyz and Turkish companies jointly, were discussed. According to the press service, the total sum of the projects discussed is $50 million.
The same day, the Turkish delegation met with First Deputy Prime Minister Boris Silaev. Joint projects in agriculture, the use of solar energy and the carpet industry were discussed. Silaev told the meeting that unresolved issues connected with the �Ak-Keme� and �Guezel Ish� projects would be addressed during the visit of President Askar Akayev to Turkey, planned for July 1999.
10 YEARS TO DEMOCRACY IN KYRGYZSTAN.
A festive meeting devoted to the tenth anniversary of the beginning of democratic changes in the country was held in Bishkek on 10 June. Chairman of the presidential administration Medet Sadyrkulov took part in the meeting and delivered a speech. Leaders of some political parties that united in the Democratic Movement of Kyrgyzstan (DMK) in 1990-1993 took part in the meeting.
The DMK was formed in May 1990 and united all the democratic parties and movements which emerged in the country in 1989-1990. The DMK played a key role in toppling the Communist leadership in the country and electing Askar Akayev as the first Kyrgyz president on 27 October 1990.
The third congress of the Party �Democratic Movement of Kyrgyzstan� (PDMK), the successor to the DMK, was also held in Bishkek on 10 June. The party chairman, Parliament deputy Jypar Jeksheev, reported to the congress on the recent activity of the party leadership. The PDMK was registered with the Ministry of Justice on 15 July 1993. According to Jeksheev, there are about 15,000 members in the party now.
TEACHERS SEND PROTEST LETTER TO PRIME MINISTER.
The trade union of workers in the educational sector announced in Bishkek on 10 June that it has sent a protest letter to Prime Minister Amangeldi Muraliev. They demand an increase in teachers' salaries and to pay them on time.
According to the trade union, the minimal subsistence level is 1,133 soms (about $26) in a month, but the average monthly salary of teachers is only about 160 soms (about $3.5), which is paid with between 2 - 6 months delay.
US GENERAL IN KYRGYZSTAN.
According to Oleg Chechel, department head in the Defense Ministry, US General Frank Tony met in Bishkek on 10 June with General Ismail Isakov, First Deputy Defense Minister, and General Abdygul Chotbaev, Commander of the National Guards. Cooperation between the US and Kyrgyz military forces and preparations for the military exercises to be held in Kyrgyzstan in 2000 were discussed.
General Frank Tony, commander of the special forces in the US, arrived in Bishkek on 10 June. It is his second visit to Kyrgyzstan in recent years.
CHINESE VICE PM IN KYRGYZSTAN.
Cihinese Deputy Premier Qian Qichen met in Bishkek on 9 June with Abdygany Erkebaev, Speaker of the parliamentary People�s Assembly, and Usup Mukambaev, Speaker of the Legislative Assembly. According to the parliamentary press service, strengthening of the inter-parliamentary cooperation was discussed at the meeting.
Qian Qichen arrived in Bishkek on 8 June and met with President Askar Akayev and First Vice Prime Minister Boris Silaev the same day.
NOT ALL TAXES ARE COLLECTED.
Deputy Director of the State Tax Inspection Kanyshai Sharshekeeva announced in Bishkek on 9 June that the inspection collected 1,412 million soms (about $33 million) in the first five months of 1999, which is equal to 97.9 percent of the plan. According to Sharshekeeva, the inspection plans to collect 3,280-million-som taxes this year. Total sum of tax arrears is 570 million soms (about $13 million) now, 70 percent of which is owed by a handful of the country's largest enterprises.
ALCOHOL INDUSTRY IN CRISIS.
Vice Prime Minister Esengul OmurAliyev held a meeting with the leaders of alcohol enterprises in Bishkek on 9 June. According to the governmental press service, the alcohol industry implemented the economic plan for the first five months in 1999 by 73 percent only. OmurAliyev attributed the shortfall to the increase in excise duties on alcohol imposed on 1 January 1999. As a result, some part of the alcohol industry has turned into �shadow�. According to Omuraliev, the government will prepare a law draft on cutting duty on alcohol and will try to put it into effect from 1 July 1999.
PARLIAMENTARY HEARINGS ON YOUTH POLICY.
Parliamentary committee chairman Jangoroz Kanimetov announced in Bishkek on 9 June that parliamentary hearings on state policy on youth problems in Kyrgyzstan will be held on 21 June. According to him, about 80 percent of young people graduating from institutes and universities cannot find employment, and 50 percent of unemployed in the country are aged between 14 and 30.
US GIFT TO THE CUSTOMS INSPECTION.
The US Embassy in Bishkek on 9 June presented the Kyrgyz Customs Inspection in Bishkek with a mini-bus with special X-ray equipment to detect smuggled items. The cost of the bus is $250,000.