Kyrgyzstan

(CC) Image: George Swan
Centred directly over Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan

Kyrgyzstan (Кыргыз Республикасы) is a landlocked Central Asian nation, formerly part of the USSR, and bordering China, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. There are border disputes with Kazakhstan, Tajikistan; and Uzbekistan. The capital is Bishkek.

It lies along the classic Silk Road. Islam was introduced between the ninth and thirteenth century.

Demographics

Its 5 million citizens, with a 1.38% growth rate (2008 est.), are 75 percent Muslim, with 20% of the remainder Russian Orthodox 20%; 5% belong to other religions. Kyrgyz 64.9%, Uzbek 13.8%, Russian 12.5%, Dungan 1.1%, Ukranian 1%, Uighur 1%, other 5.7% (1999 census). The population is 98% literate, with an average 12th grade education.

(PD) Image: CIA
CIA map of Kyrgyzstan.

Economics

On becoming independent, Kyrgyzstan was progressive in carrying out market reforms such as an improved regulatory system and land reform. It ws the first Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) country to be accepted into the World Trade Organization. Much of the government's stock in enterprises has been sold.

Drops in production had been severe after the breakup of the Soviet Union in December 1991, but by mid-1995, production began to recover and exports began to increase.

The economy is heavily weighted toward gold export and a drop in output at the main Kumtor gold mine sparked a 0.5% decline in GDP in 2002 and a 0.6% decline in 2005.

The government made steady strides in controlling its substantial fiscal deficit, nearly closing the gap between revenues and expenditures in 2006, before boosting expenditures more than 20% in 2007-08.

There has been continuing cooperation between the government and international economic organizations, focusing on a comprehensive medium-term poverty reduction and economic growth strategy. In 2005, Bishkek agreed to pursue much-needed tax reform and, in 2006, became eligible for the heavily indebted poor countries (HIPC) initiative.

Progress fighting corruption, further restructuring of domestic industry, and success in attracting foreign investment are keys to future growth. GDP grew more than 6% annually in 2007-08, partly due to higher gold prices internationally, but growth is likely to decline from that level in 2009, due to declining demand and lower commodity prices in the wake of the international financial crisis.

The country has strong potential for hydroelectric power development and export, but this sector has not grown.

In May 2009, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development made a $20 million line of credit available for medium, small, and microloan business lending.

History

By the thirteenth century, all the Kyrgyz groups were conquered by the son of Genghis Khan, and the Kyrgyz remained under Mongol rule until 1510. Russia conquered the Uzbek Quqon (Kokand) Khanate that controlled the country, in 1876, giving it control. Under Soviet rule, the Kyrgyz Republic "played a specialized, uneventful role as the supplier of agricultural products and specific mineral and military products. Until the 1960s, Russians dominated the republic’s government. Beginning in that decade, the accession of Kyrgyz politicians to high-level positions established the pattern of local patronage that still underlies politics in Kyrgyzstan."

Independence

After independence from the former Soviet Union, President Askar Akaev established an authoritatian government, was defeated by elections in the spring of 2005, won by prime minister Kurmanbek Bakiev. An opposition, under Bakiev, led to 2006 changes in the consitution, which strenghened parliamentary government. The political opposition organized demonstrations in Bishkek in April, May, and November 2006 resulting in the adoption of a new constitution that transferred some of the president's powers to parliament and the government.

An Kyrgyz ambassador to the U.S. recounted, "My people's hopes have receded as our nation has steadily become more authoritarian. Kyrgyzstan may still be the most democratic nation in Central Asia, but the ways in which it differs from its more authoritarian neighbors are steadily being erased. Millions of Kyrgyz dream of a better, more democratic future". U.S. criticism of authoritarianism and encouragement of democracy gave them hope.

Afghanistan War (2001-)

While Kyrgyzstan does not directly border Afghanistan, it hosted an important regional facility used by the United States for its Afghan operations, the Manas Air Base. The US calls it Ganci Air Base, after Peter Ganci, the Chief of the Fire Department of New York, kille in the 9-11 Attack in New York. The country recently asked the U.S. to leave, with a final parliamentary vote on February 19, 2009, although this may be under reexamination.

In 2002, the U.S. deported two Uighurs, suspected of being members of the East Turkestan Independence Movement, for planning terrorist attacks in Kyrgyzstan, including on the U.S. Embassy.

According to a past Kyrgyz Ambassador to the United States, his country had many reasons for wanting the base. Kyrgyzstan saw common security interests with the U.S.: "Fifty of our uniformed servicemen had been killed from 1999 to 2001 in gun battles with the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan (UIM), an organization that formally allied itself with al-Qaeda and that operated out of bases in Afghanistan it maintained with al-Qaeda and Taliban support." U.S. operations against al-Qaida and the Taliban also benefitted Kyrgystan...allied forces dealt the IMU a devastating blow... The U.S. commitment to end those operations corresponded with the national security interests of my country. "Contrary to news reports, he said, the reason for asking the U.S. to leave was not principally due to Russian pressure. Once the air base opened, however, the broad engagement between the two countries came to focus only on the base.

After the 9-11 attacks, the U.S obtained a good deal of regional cooperation for operations in Afghanistan. According to Andrew Hoehn of the RAND Corporation "And at that time, on a fairly urgent basis, relationships were forged with Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan so as to be able to use air facilities, airfields in both countries. It was at Karshi-Kanabad in Uzbekistan and at Manas in Kyrgyzstan." Jason Lyall, of Princeton University, said "It moves about 500 tons of cargo and supplies every month and about 15,000 people transiting through there every month as well. And on the refueling side it is really, really important for aircraft that are flying over Afghanistan both for search and rescue missions, say for downed pilots and things of that nature, as well as for bombing raids." Last year, more than 11,000 aircraft were refueled over the skies of Afghanistan by tankers based at Manas.

Uzbekistan, in 2005, closed Karshi-Kanabad airfield; VOA reported this as due to Russian pressure. VOA, however, reported that Russia certainly played a role in the Kyrgyz base-closing decision.

Economics development

Kyrgyzstan also hoped to benefit economically from the base, a wish that was never hidden, but never really materialized. The local government saw U.S. cooperation on a number of fronts: "security concerns, economic concerns, and advocacy of human rights and democracy. But once the base was established, it became clear that while other concerns might be voiced from time to time, only one thing really mattered: the air base. In the end, this shift served neither country's interests." There were also tensions about a U.S. shooting of a Kyrgyz citizen, with a U.S. response that left the locals concerned about U.S. candor.

Still, economics seem a major factor. Quoting Robert Legvold of Columbia University, "It would appear to be more than a coincidence that the decision was announced to the Americans in Moscow when (Kurmanbek) Bakiyev, the president of Kyrgyzstan, was in Moscow and immediately after he'd received this large package of aid, a $2 billion credit and a $150 million grant. That appears to be more than a coincidence, not the least since we know that the Russians have been urging both the Uzbeks and the Kirghiz to set a deadline by which the Americans should be removed from the base, or by which the outsiders should be pushed out of the central Asian facilities." One of the issues is that Kyrgyzstan wants to raise the lease price to the U.S. to an $17 million, as part of an overall $150 million economic package to Bishkek.

A key question for the U.S. is how much the logistic benefits are worth to the U.S. Michael Williams, of the University of London, said the base has recently become even more important. "Given the fact that the current supply routes run from Pakistan and they come from Karachi, from the sea, all the way up the country into southern and eastern Afghanistan. And given the insecurity, both in the provinces of Pakistan bordering Afghanistan and in southern and eastern Afghanistan, it has been quite difficult ensuring regularity of supplies. NATO has had several convoys attacked. Several hundred NATO vehicles were destroyed in a single ambush a few months ago."

Politics

In December 2006, the Kyrgyzstani parliament voted to adopt new amendments, restoring some of the presidential powers lost in the November 2006 constitutional change. Since then, economic mismanagement left the country, expected to be a net exporter of electrical power, in a power crisis.

By late-September 2007, both previous versions of the constitution were declared illegal, and the country reverted to the 2003 constitution, which was subsequently modified in a flawed referendum initiated by Bakiev. The president then dissolved parliament, called for early elections, and gained control of the new parliament through his newly-created political party, Ak Jol, in December 2007 elections.

Manas issues

Manas (Kyrgyz Манас) is the hero of the Manas epos — possibly the longest epic poem known to mankind. The epos was historically only transmitted orally and continues to do so (there is even a profession devoted to this, the Manas-chi) despite other media being available now. It is widely regarded as the central piece of Kyrgyz culture and heavily referenced in all blends of Kyrgyz art. For these reasons, the name Manas has found multiple reuses, including schools, a square in central Bishkek, the capital's airport, and a military base used by the U.S. military during their operations in Afghanistan.

Expressing concerns for the security of Kyrgyz citizens, President Bakiyev cited the incident of the killing of a Kyrgyz citizen, in 2006, by a U.S. airman. The airman was transferred out of Kyrgyzstan, and the dead man's family was offered compensation. United States Central Command commander GEN David Petraeus said, in January an investigation into the death was being reopened. In announcing the base closure, Bakiyev said he was not satisfied with the inquiry and that his government's "inability to provide security to its citizens" was proving a serious concern.

The Kyrgyz government has said it is closing the Manas base to the U.S. Hillary Clinton, U.S. Secretary of State, called the closing "regrettable", "regrettable," Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said, but it won't affect the U.S. military effort in nearby Afghanistan. Russia opened a base in Kant, Kyrgyzstan, in 2003. CNN reported that Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, said it would assist the U.S. in transporting nonmilitary cargo to Afghanistan. A Defense Department spokesman, Geoff Morrell said it was "a hugely important air base...It provides us with launching point to provide supplies in Afghanistan. We very much appreciate [Kyrgyz] support in using that base, and we hope to continue." He said there are 18 months in which the lease could be renegotiated, before it expires and hopes Kyrgyzstan will reconsider their position.

The situation is now unclear. On April 29, Morell said there is "reason to hope." Prime Minister Igor Chudinov, however, said "Not a single government official has been authorized to hold such negotiations... No one. I have no information about any such negotiations. Omurbek Tekebaev, leader of the Ata-Meken opposition party, told Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty that talks are underway, and "According to information I have received, the U.S. military presence in Manas air base will be prolonged for another three years." Economics, especially increased aid from Russia, were cited; Secretary of Defense Robert Gates has said the U.S. would be willing to pay more.