2 July 1999
VILLAGERS DEMAND COMPENSATION FOR SPILL.
It was reported by an RL correspondent in Yssyk-Koel oblast that inhabitants from Tosor and Tamga villages of Jeti Oegyez rajon continue blocking the Barskon-Kumtor road leading to the gold mines. Inhabitants of Tosor and Tamga villages started their action on 26. June. They are demanding to be fully compensated for the losses caused by last year's cyanide spill. They also want to meet with the head of the government commission on mitigating the consequences of the spill, Vice-Prime Minister Boris Silajev in person. Kumtor Operating Company's (KOC) Foreign Relations officer Tynara Shajdyldajeva confirmed that for four days the lorries were prevented from reaching the mining site, causing very many difficulties. She also maintained that the villagers had no claims to the KOC.
LAWMAKERS START SUMMER VACATION.
On 30 June lawmakers of the lower house of the parliament left for summer vacation. On their last working day they voted for the budget of the year 1999 which was approved by the (upper) House of the People's Representatives. They also approved several bills. According to press service of the Lawmaking House, during the last 10 months deputies adopted 90 bills; since April 9 when the house was elected, this number reached 447; 412 of these were signed by the president.
DEPUTIES WANT TO HEAR CHIEF PROSECUTOR REGARDING THEIR ARRESTED COLLEAGUES.
The House of People's Representatives decided on 30 June to invite the chief prosecutor Asanbek SharshenAliyev to report on the arrest of three members of the house. Earlier the House complained that the arrests violated Paragraph 56 of the Constitution.
FINANCE MINISTER BELIEVES BUDGET SCHEDULE TO BE OBSERVED.
On 30 June Marat Sultanov told journalists that the budget plan for 1999 would be executed in a timely manner. According to him, the first half of the year recorded 0.8% growth of the GDP. 228 ml soms in reserves is still available. These favorable factors allow direct attention to be paid to the accurate execution of the budget rather than to speculations of the need to introduce a state of emergency as suggested by deputy Dastan Sarygulov this Tuesday.
KURDS OF KYRGYZSTAN TO PROTEST.
President of the Association of Kurds in Kyrgyzstan, Sulkhadin Kasymov said on 1 July that the Association is preparing a letter to Kyrgyz president Askar Akaev and the United Nations demanding a pardon for Kurdish leader Abdulla Ocalan. "We belong to Kyrgyzstan but as a part of Kurdish people we are also obliged to support Ocalan", said Kasymov. According to him, 32,000 Kurds of Chui and Talas oblasts will gather to ask permission to hold a protest.
TAJIK REFUGEES RETURNING HOME.
On 2 July 220 Tajiks will return to Tajikstan. As Helmut Buss, head of UNHCR's Bishkek office said, since 1998 so far 1,500 Tajiks returned home. By the end of 1999, an additional 1,000 will leave Kyrgyzstan. There are 12,547 Tajiks and 658 Afghanis in the country registered as refugees.
ADB TO OPEN OFFICE IN BISHKEK.
The Asian Development Bank distributed a statement on 1 July which informs of the Bank's decision to open a permanent representation in Kyrgyzstan. The office will start operations in January. In 1999-2001 ABD plans to provide Kyrgyzstan with 230 ml USD in loans.
AKAEV IN TURKEY ON OFFICIAL VISIT.
Kyrgyz President Askar Akaev arrived in Ankara on the evening of 30 June. He was greeted by his Turkish counterpart Sulejman Demirel in Esenboga airport. Before behind-closed-door talks, Demirel told correspondents that relations between two nations will further improve to serve peace of the region. Akaev said that the motto of the Kyrgyz delegation in Ankara is "to the 21st Century with Turkey". According to Demirel, the future of cooperation between two countries, as well as world and regional issues will be discussed. The presidents will participate in an expanded meeting of the delegation. In the second part of the day Akaev's doctrine called "Silk Route Diplomacy" will be presented at a special meeting. On 1 July Kyrgyz president plans to meet prime-minister Bulent Ecevit and parliament speaker Yldyrym Akbulut. The same day Kyrgyz-Turkish Business Council will hold its session with the participation of both presidents. The same day the Kyrgyz delegation plans to return to Bishkek.
HURRICANES DAMAGE HOUSES, NO VICTIMS REPORTED.
The Ministry of Emergency Situations reports that on 28 June strong winds caused damage in several districts. According to preliminary estimates, a wind blowing 20 meters/second destroyed the roofs of 47 houses in Talas, Osh oblasts and tore electric wires. There were similar damages in Chui oblast. The financial losses will be estimated by ad hoc commissions within two-three days.
DEPUTY SUGGESTS STATE OF EMERGENCY TO SOFTEN ECONOMIC CRISIS.
On 29 June, for the second consecutive day, People's Representatives (upper) house of the parliament debated the socio-economic and financial situation in the country. Following the reports made by prime minister A. MurAliyev and acting chairman of Central Bank U. Sarbanov yesterday, deputies today discussed wage and pension debts, rise in wheat and flour prices, aggravating export opportunities, inability of Kyrgyz government to establish equal economic relations with neighboring countries, obstacles caused by control bodies to businesses and other questions. Senator Dastan Sarygulov suggested the introduction of state of emergency for three months in order to stabilize the economy. A decision on the issues discussed will be taken on 30 June.
FORESTS TO REMAIN STATE PROPERTY.
At the 29 June session the People's Representatives House adopted a forest code with amendments. Following a veto by the president, the clause on private ownership was dropped. Now the code affirms the state status of forests.
OPPOSITION LEADER TO HOLD HIS PARTY'S FIRST CONGRESS NEXT MONTH.
Ex-major of Bishkek Felix Kulov and his supporters plan to hold the founding congress of their Ar-Namys (Dignity) Party on 9 July. As the organizing committee informed Radio Liberty on 29 June, some1,000 persons have expressed their willingness to join the party.
KYRGYZ NGO'S ACCUSE MINISTRY OF INFRINGEMENT.
The Coalition of NGOs for Democratic and Civil Society forwarded a letter to the Bishkek mission of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE). As Toelejkan Ismailova, the managing director of the Coalition told Radio Liberty on 29 June, the letter was prompted by the Justice Ministry's intensified attempts to control the activities of civic groups. As cited by Mrs. Ismailova, on 11 May the Ministry adopted a document which stipulates checking the conformity of the actions of NGOs with their founding rules. The Coalition considers the adoption of this document as an attempt aimed to suppress civic initiative on the eve of elections.