Kyrgyzstan General Information Area: 198,500 sq km (76,600 sq miles). Population: 4,822,938 (1999). Population Density: 24.3 per sq km. Capital: Bishkek (Frunze). Population: 589,400 (1997). GEOGRAPHY: Kyrgyzstan is bordered by Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and China. The majestic Tian Shan (Heavenly Mountains) range occupies the greater part of the area. Its highest peak is Pik Pobedy at 7439m (24,406ft). Government: Republic. Gained independence from the Soviet Union in 1991. Head of State and Government: President Askar Akayev since 1990. Prime Minister: Nikolay Tanayev since May 2002. Language: The official language is Kyrgyz, a Turkic language closely related to Uzbek, Kazakh, Turkmen and Turkish. Any attempt by a foreigner to speak Kyrgyz will be greatly appreciated. In deference to the large Russian population of Kyrgyzstan, Russian is also protected under law. In 1993, the Government undertook to replace the Russian Cyrillic Alphabet with the Turkish version of the Roman alphabet. Meanwhile, most people can speak Russian, and do so, especially in the north. English is widely spoken by those involved in tourism. Uzbek, Kazakh, Tajik and various other regional languages and dialects are also spoken. Religion: The major religion is Islam with the majority of Kyrgyz being Sunni Muslim with a Russian Orthodox minority. Time: GMT + 5 (GMT + 6 from second Sunday in April to Saturday before last Sunday in September). Electricity: 220 volts AC, 50Hz. Round two-pin continental plugs are standard. Communications:   Telephone Country code: 996 (312 for Bishkek). International calls should be made from a telephone office which will usually be found attached to a post office; they can also be made from some hotels by asking at reception. All international calls from Kyrgyzstan have to go through the operator. Local calls (within the city) are free of charge if made from private telephones; hotels sometimes levy a small charge. Direct-dial calls within the CIS are obtained by dialling 8 and waiting for another dial tone and then dialling the city code followed by the number. Mobile telephone GSM 900 network in use. The main provider is Bitel Ltd (website: www.bitelgsm.kg). Fax Services are available in main hotels for residents only. Telegram Services are available from post offices in large towns. Internet ISPs include VPM Internet Services. There is an Internet cafe on ul Sovetskaya in Bishkek. Post Letters to and from Western Europe and the USA can take anything between two weeks and two months. Stamped envelopes can be bought from post offices. Mail to recipients within Kyrgyzstan should be addressed in the following order: country, postcode, city, street, house number and lastly the person’s name. Visitors can also use post offices located within some major hotels. Post office hours: Mon-Fri 0900-1800. Press The Central Asian Post, the Kyrgyzstan Chronicle and Zamen Kyrgyzstan are published weekly in English. The main dailies are published in Bishkek and include Bishkek Shamy and Kyrgyz Tuusu (both in Kyrgyz), and Vechernii Bishkek and Slovo Kyrgyzstana (in Russian). BBC World Service and Voice of America frequencies: From time to time these change. BBC (website: www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice): MHz 17.79 15.58 11.76 1.413 Voice of America (website: www.voa.gov): MHz 17.74 11.71 9.645 6.110 Passport/Visa   Passport Required? Visa Required? Return Ticket Required? British Yes Yes No Australian Yes Yes No Canadian Yes Yes No USA Yes Yes No OtherEU Yes Yes No Japanese Yes No No PASSPORTS: Passport required by all. VISAS: Required by all except the following: (a) nationals of CIS countries (except Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan); (b) nationals of Turkey for stays of up to 30 days; (c) nationals of any country for a stay of up to three days, provided holding a visa for another CIS country; (d) nationals (provided they are permanent residents of their country) of Bulgaria, Cuba, Czech Republic, Hungary, Korea (Dem Rep), Poland, Romania, Slovak Republic and Vietnam travelling as tourists; (e) transit passengers continuing their journey by the same or first connecting aircraft within 48 hours, provided holding onward or return documentation and not leaving airport. Note: For those wishing to continue on to China, Chinese visas should be obtained before departure for Kyrgyzstan. Types of visa and cost: Ordinary, Tourist and Transit. Single-entry: £20 (one week); £35 (over one week); £40 (one month); £66 (over one month). Multiple-entry: £100 (six months); £125 (one year). Express visas: add 100 per cent of visa cost (if issued the next day) or 50 per cent of visa cost (if issued within three to six days). Express visas can only be issued with authorisation from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kyrgyz Republic. Validity: Up to three months from date of issue. Multiple-entry visas are valid for six months. Application to: Consulate (or Consular section at Embassy); see Contact Addresses section. Those resident in the UK can also obtain visas from Russia House (for address, see Russian Federation section). Application requirements: Tourist: (a) Completed application form. (b) One passport-size photo. (c) Valid passport (must be an original, not a photocopy) with one blank page to affix visa. (d) Stamped self-addressed, registered envelope. (e) Fee. (f) For individual tourists, a letter from travel agency giving arrival and departure dates and accommodation details; for tourists travelling in groups, a list with names and passport numbers. Business/Official, Private: (a)-(e) and, (f) A letter of support from the Ministry of Foreign/Internal Affairs in Kyrgyzstan as well as a letter of invitation with full address details from the contact organisation in Kyrgyzstan summarising purpose of trip, arrival and departure dates. Contact the Embassy for further advice. Working days required: Seven days; one to six days for Express visas; eight to ten days for postal applications. Temporary residence: Enquire at Embassy for details (see Contact Addresses section). Money Currency: Som (KS) = 100 Tyin. Notes are in denominations of KS1000, 500, 200, 100, 50, 20, 10, 5 and 1, and 50, 10 and 1 Tyin. Currency exchange: Foreign currencies can be exchanged at commercial banks and at authorised bureaux de change. The US Dollar is the easiest currency to exchange. Credit & debit cards: Credit cards are accepted in some of the larger hotels in Bishkek and can also be used at banks to withdraw cash from the counter. Check with your credit or debit card company for merchant acceptability and other services which may be available. Travellers cheques: There is limited acceptance of these, but some banks in Bishkek accept travellers cheques; commission charges are high. Cash is recommended. Currency restrictions: There are no restrictions on the import or export of foreign currency, provided declared on arrival. The import and export of local currency is unlimited for Kyrgyz residents only. Exchange rate indicators The following figures are included as a guide to the movements of the Som against Sterling and the US Dollar. Date May ’02 Aug ’02 Nov ’02 Feb ’03 £1.00= 69.73 69.96 72.63 73.42 $1.00= 47.85 46.00 45.93 46.11 Banking hours: Usually Mon-Fri 0930-1730. Duty Free The following goods may be imported into Kyrgyzstan by travellers of 16 years or over without incurring customs duty: 1000 cigarettes or 1000g of tobacco products; 1.5l of alcoholic beverages and 2l of wine; a reasonable quantity of perfume for personal use. Note: On entering the country, tourists must complete a customs declaration form which must be retained until departure. This allows the import of articles intended for personal use, including currency and valuables which must be registered on the declaration form. Customs inspection can be long and detailed. Prohibited imports: Military weapons and ammunition; narcotics; fruit and vegetables; live animals; photographs and printed matter directed against Kyrgyzstan; loose pearls; anything owned by a third party that is to be carried in for that third party. If there are any queries regarding items that may be imported, an information sheet is available on request from Intourist. Prohibited exports: As prohibited imports, as well as annulled securities, state loan certificates, lottery tickets, works of art and antiques (unless permission has been granted by the Ministry of Culture), saiga horns, Siberian stag, red deer antlers (unless on organised hunting trip) and deer skins. Public Holidays Jan 1 2003 New Year’s Day. Jan 7 Russian Orthodox Christmas. Feb 12 Kurban Ait (Feast of the Sacrifice). Mar 8 International Women’s Day. Mar 21 Nooruz (Kyrgyz New Year). May 1 Labour Day. May 5 Constitution Day. May 9 Victory Day. Aug 31 Independence Day. Nov 26-28 Eid al-Fitr (End of Ramadan). Jan 1 2004 New Year’s Day. Jan 7 Russian Orthodox Christmas. Feb 2 Kurban Ait (Feast of the Sacrifice). Mar 8 International Women’s Day. Mar 21 Nooruz (Kyrgyz New Year). May 1 Labour Day. May 5 Constitution Day. May 9 Victory Day. Aug 31 Independence Day. Nov 14-16 Eid al-Fitr (End of Ramadan). Health   Special Precautions Certificate Required Yellow Fever No No Cholera Yes 1 Typhoid and Polio 2 N/A Malaria No N/A 1: Following WHO guidelines issued in 1973, a cholera vaccination certificate is not a condition of entry to Kyrgyzstan. However, cholera is common in this country and precautions are essential. Up-to-date advice should be sought before deciding whether these precautions should include vaccination, as medical opinion is divided over its effectiveness. For more information, see the Health appendix. 2: Typhoid is common in rural areas. Polio eradication is underway, rapidly reducing the risk of infection with the disease. Food & drink: The water has been tested by the US-based Center for Diseases Control and found to be generally bacteria-free; however, it does have a high metal content. Milk is pasteurised and dairy products are safe for consumption. Only eat well-cooked meat and fish, preferably served hot. Pork, salad and mayonnaise may carry increased risk. Vegetables should be cooked and fruit peeled. Owing to the difficulty of obtaining a balanced diet in some parts of Kyrgyzstan, visitors are recommended to take vitamin supplements. Other risks: Diphtheria outbreaks have been reported in the area. Hepatitis A and E are common. Hepatitis B is endemic. Rabies is present. For those at high risk, vaccination before arrival should be considered. If you are bitten, seek medical advice without delay. For more information, consult the Health appendix. Note: HIV testing is required for visits of over one month. Health care: There is no reciprocal health agreement with the UK. Medical services offered to foreigners, except emergency care, require immediate cash payment and are somewhat limited. There is a severe shortage of basic medical supplies, including disposable needles, anaesthetics and antibiotics, and travellers are advised to bring any necessary medication or equipment. Elderly travellers and those with existing health problems may be at risk owing to inadequate medical facilities. The US Embassy maintains a list of English-speaking physicians in the area. Medical insurance is strongly recommended. Travel - International Note: It is not advised at present to travel to the south and west of Osh or the Ferghana Valley. For further information, visitors should seek official advice. AIR: The national airline is Kyrgyz International Airlines (N5), which operates direct flights to Bishkek from Germany and Turkey (Istanbul). BA operates a direct flight from London to Bishkek. British Mediterranean (a franchise partner of British Airways) operates services three times a week from London to Bishkek. Turkish Airlines also flies to Bishkek from London, with a stopover in Istanbul. In addition, there is a number of direct flights from Europe to Almaty, in neighbouring Kazakhstan. The connection from there to Kyrgyzstan is via frequent bus services to Bishkek (travel time – 4 hours). Other European airlines flying direct to Almaty include Lufthansa (five weekly flights from Frankfurt/M) and KLM (from Amsterdam). There are also direct flights to Bishkek from Moscow and St Petersburg (Russian Federation) and from Tashkent (Uzbekistan). Approximate flight times: From London to Bishkek is 9 hours. From London to Almaty (Kazakhstan) is 6 hours 30 minutes; from Istanbul to Almaty is 5 hours 30 minutes and from Frankfurt/M to Almaty is 7 hours. International airports: Bishkek Manas Airport (FRU) is 30km (19 miles) north of Bishkek. There is a minibus shuttle service to the city centre when the airport is open (travel time – 60 minutes). Taxis are available. Airport facilities include left luggage, crèche, bars, 24-hour restaurant, chemist, bank (Mon-Fri 0800-1630) and bureau de change (24 hours). Departure Tax: US$10. RAIL: There are rail connections with the Russian Federation (travel time to Moscow is three days) and with other Central Asian republics. However, tourists are advised that robberies on trains have been reported. ROAD: The main international road links are with Kazakhstan and there is presently one crossing point into China; visitors should note that the Chinese authorities normally require proof of an invitation by a Chinese tour operator as a condition of entry. There are regular bus links from Bishkek to Tashkent (Uzbekistan) (travel time – 10-12 hours) and Almaty (Kazakhstan) (travel time – 6 hours); services leave the long-distance (zapadni) bus station in Bishkek. There is also a direct service to Osh from Tashkent (Uzbekistan) via the Fergana Valley, but road conditions are very poor on this route (see also Uzbekistan section). Generally, roads can be affected by landslides (especially during spring in the mountain areas), while winter may cause hazardous conditions on a number of roads (especially on mountain passes, some of which may be closed during certain periods); visitors should also note that garage services are very limited. Travel - Internal AIR: There are internal connections from Bishkek to Cholpan-Ata, Kara-Kol, Naryn and Osh. Travellers should note that maintenance procedures for aircraft operating internally may not conform to internationally accepted standards. Access to the Central Tien-Shan region is via helicopter, which takes climbers up the Inylchek Valley. RAIL: There is only one railway line, which runs from Bishkek to Balikchi at the western end of Lake Issyk-Kul. Osh, in the south of the country, can be reached by rail via Tashkent (Uzbekistan). A new North–South railway is currently planned. Travellers are advised that robberies on trains have been reported. ROAD: Kyrgyzstan has 28,400km (17,400 miles) of roads. Traffic drives on the right. Bus: There are regular bus connections to all parts of Kyrgyzstan. Buses are crowded but they are currently the best and safest form of internal travel in Kyrgyzstan. Visitors to the southern regions, including Osh, should inform an Embassy (or Consulate) or tour operator before travelling. Taxi: Taxis can be found in all major towns. Many are unlicensed, and fares should be agreed in advance. As many of the street names, particularly in the capital, have changed since independence, visitors are advised to ask for both the old and the new names when seeking directions. Car hire: Car hire is not available. It is possible to hire cars with drivers for long-distance journeys, but because of the shortage of petrol, it is generally an expensive option. Foreigners are generally expected to pay in US Dollars. Documentation: Licences for long-stay residents intending to buy or import a car can be obtained from the Protocol Department of the Foreign Ministry. An International Driving Permit and two photos are required. URBAN: There are bus and trolleybus services around the capital. TRAVEL TIMES: The following chart gives approximate travel times from Bishkek (in hours and minutes) to other towns in Kyrgyzstan. Road Osh 12.00 Tokmak 1.00 Balikchi 2.30 Kara-Kol 5.30 Accommodation HOTELS: Accommodation is limited outside the capital and visitors should not expect Western standards of comfort (although hotels are generally clean). Hotels charge considerably higher prices for individual tourists from non-CIS countries. Foreign tour operators booking for their clients are usually offered a preferential rate. Some hotels in more remote areas may still be wary of accepting foreigners travelling independently. TURBAZAS: These ‘tourist bases’ are an alternative to hotel accommodation. For a dollar or two in local currency, visitors have access to basic bungalow accommodation and three meals a day. SANATORIA: Since the break-up of the Soviet Union, the sanatoria on the shores of Lake Issyk-Kul – originally built by cooperatives and trade unions for fatigued workers – have started to take in tourists, but the atmosphere may not be to everyone’s taste. MOUNTAINEERING CAMPS: Various private companies run a number of camps for mountaineers attempting to climb the many peaks in Kyrgyzstan’s mountains. For further details, contact the State Committee for Tourism, Sport and Youth Policy or Regent Holidays (see Contact Addresses section). Introduction The main attraction of Kyrgyzstan lies in the breathtaking landscape of mountains, glaciers and lakes; their isolation ensures that they have been almost forgotten by the crowds. The lakes and mountainous terrain provide excellent opportunities for trekking, skiing, climbing, sailing and swimming. For more ambitious travellers, it is possible to follow the route of the old Silk Road to Kashgar in China, crossing the border at the Torugart Pass, near Lake Chatyr-Kul. Trekking tours and adventure holidays in this region are offered by a growing number of companies. BISHKEK: The capital was founded in 1878 on the site of a clay fort built by the Khan of Kokand and destroyed by the Russians, and sits at the foot of the Tian Shan mountain range. A largely Soviet-built city, it has a similar spacious atmosphere to its Kazakh neighbour, Almaty. Ulitsa Sovietskaya, the broad tree-lined road between the railway station and the city centre, houses the Kyrgyz State Opera and Ballet Theatre, the Chernyshevsky Public Library and the State Art Museum. Other attractions include the History Museum in the Old Square (Stary Ploshad), the Lenin Museum, the Zoological Museum and the Kyrgyz Drama Theatre. The Government plans to redevelop the former General Frunze Museum on Frunze Street – which commemorated the Kyrgyz-born Russian general who subdued Central Asia for the Bolsheviks – into a celebration of the ethnic diversity that is found in Kyrgyzstan. A section on Jewish culture has already been opened. EXCURSIONS: Less than an hour’s drive from Bishkek, the Ala-Archa Nature Reserve offers spectacular scenery for trekking and skiing. A further 50 minutes east from the city, the Burana Tower is a 25m-high (82ft) minaret which dates from the 11th century and is all that remains of the ancient city of Balasagun. LAKE ISSYK-KUL: Still further east lies the jewel in the crown of the republic. Lying 1600m (5249ft) above sea level, the saltwater Lake Issyk-Kul was closed to foreigners during the Soviet era. Both its Kyrgyz name and Chinese name (Ze-Hai) mean warm sea, as it never freezes over, despite the altitude. Surrounded by snow-capped mountains and ringed with sandy beaches, the lake has a pristine and outstanding beauty. On the north shore, the town of Cholpan-Alta is a spa town which was a former retreat for the Communist Party elite. The resort of Issyk-kul is now open to anyone, although it is very busy during the summer season and visitors are advised to book in advance. In the Kungay Ala-Too Mountains behind it, four trekking routes start, leading eventually to Medeo, outside Almaty (Kazakhstan), four to six days away. For scuba-diving enthusiasts, there is spectacularly clear water and a 12th-century town that lies 2-3m (6-10ft) below the surface of the lake near Ulan, 18km (11 miles) from Balikchi. At the southeast end of the lake is the town of Kara-Kol, with its attractive houses and tree-lined streets, and behind it are the Terskay Ala-Too Mountains, an unspoilt wilderness populated only by nomadic shepherds, and only then during the summer. There are few roads and little accommodation. Around 16km (10 miles) outside Kara-Kol is the health resort of Ak-Soo with hot mineral springs. OSH: Kyrgyzstan’s second city is in the south, on the Uzbek border. Although it is 2500 years old, few traces of its ancient history remain. Since the tenth century, pilgrims have come to visit the Suleiman Gora, a hill in the middle of the city where legend has it that the Prophet once prayed. Childless women come here in the hope that they may conceive (the hill is supposed to look like a pregnant woman lying on her back). Other attractions include the Museum of Local Studies and the bazaar. EXCURSIONS: North of Osh is the town of Uzgen where there is a mausoleum that is supposed to have contained the body of the Kyrgyz hero Manas. East of Osh is the Sary-Chelek Nature Reserve, which includes the stunning Lake Sary-Chelek. The Silk Road This ancient trading route was used by silk merchants from the second century AD until its decline in the 14th century, and is open in parts to tourists, stretching from northern China, through bleak and foreboding desert and mountainous terrain to the ports on either the Caspian Sea or Mediterranean Sea. For further details of the route, see the Silk Road in the China section. The main attraction of the route in Kyrgyzstan is the amazing alpine scenery including the Kyrgyz Altau and Tian Shan mountain ranges and Issyk Kul Lake (the world’s second-largest alpine lake). The difficult but exhilarating journey between Bishek and Kashgar (China) via the Torugart Pass is a popular trekking route. Travel along the silk road can be quite difficult due to the terrain, harsh climate and lack of developed infrastructure. Visitors to the region are advised to travel with an organised tour company or travel agent. Sport & Activities Hiking and trekking: Kyrgyzstan’s reputation as a trekking and climbing destination has improved considerably in recent years and a growing number of tour operators now offer walking, mountaineering and heli-skiing tours throughout Kyrgyzstan and the neighbouring republics; these companies can also arrange entry formalities for border crossings into China and other CIS countries where visas may be required. Mountaineering camps are available: the Ala-Archa camp, 40km (25 miles) from Bishkek, offers over 160 routes and is the base for attempts to climb the Kyrgyz range (highest point: 4876m/15,997ft). In the south, the Pamir camp offers opportunities on the peaks of the Pamir Mountains. Horesriding: The national sports reflect the importance of the horse in Kyrgyz culture. Ulak Tartysh is a team game in which the two mounted teams attempt to deliver the carcass of a goat weighing 30-40kg over the opposition’s goal line. Players are allowed to wrestle the goat from an opponent, but physical assault is frowned upon. Each game is 15 minutes long. Aht Chabysh are horse races held over distances varying between 4-50km (2.5-31 miles). Competitors under 13 years of age are barred from entering. Udarysh is a competition on horseback in which two riders or two teams of riders attempt to wrestle each other, and frequently their mounts, to the ground. Other: Increasingly, sports such as football, skiing and swimming are also popular. Social Profile Food & Drink: Kyrgyz food shows the effect of its location and history; befitting a nation descended from nomadic herdspeople, mutton is the staple meat, enlivened with Chinese influences. Shashlyk (skewered chunks of mutton barbecued over charcoal) and lipioshka (round unleavened bread) are often sold on street corners. Plov, rice fried with shredded turnip and scraps of mutton, served with bread, is a Central Asian staple. Laghman is a noodle soup with mutton and vegetables that was originally imported from Chinese Turkestan. Beshbarmak is noodles with shredded, boiled meat in bouillon. Around Lake Issyk-Kul, the noodles are sometimes served with jellied potato starch rather than meat. Shorpur is a meat soup with potatoes and other vegetables. Manty (steamed noodle sacks of meat and vegetables), samsa (samosas) and chiburekki (deep-fried dough cakes) are all popular as snacks. The Kyrgyz and the Kazakhs are almost alone among Central Asian people in eating horse meat; only young mares are used and they are fed on the Alpine grasses, which are thought to impart a particularly good flavour. Restaurants in the capital tend to stop serving at 2200. Black or green tea is the most popular drink. Koumys (fermented mares’ milk) is mildly alcoholic and can still be found in the countryside; refusing an offer of koumys may cause offence. Other local specialities include dzarma (fermented barley flour) and boso (fermented millet, resembling beer). During the summer, chai khanas (open-air tea houses) are popular. Beer, vodka and local brandy are all widely available in restaurants. Nightlife: There are performances of both Russian and European operas and ballets in the State Opera House in Bishkek. Local music and theatre has enjoyed a strong revival since independence and excerpts from the Manas, the Kyrgyz national epic about the eponymous warrior that runs to some 500,000 lines, play to packed houses. The Manas was originally handed down orally, but was written down in the early part of the 19th century. Shopping: In Bishkek, Osh and Al-Medin bazaars are popular for food and handicrafts. There is also a shop in the Art Gallery that sells paintings and traditional Kyrgyz products. Particularly popular are embroidered Kyrgyz felt hats (kalpak), felt carpets and chess sets with traditional Kyrgyz figures. Shopping hours: Mon-Sat 0900-1700. Special Events: The following are some special events taking place in Kyrgyzstan in 2003: Mar 21 Nooruz (the lunar new year is a public holiday as well as a colourful festival). Jun 13 Commemoration Day. Dec 2 National Day. Social Conventions: Tipping: This is becoming more customary, especially in international hotels. Business Profile Economy: Like the other central Asian States, the government of Kyrgyzstan inherited a seriously unbalanced and dysfunctional economy from the Soviet Union. It chose a policy of rapid change, including privatisation and a freely floating and convertible currency (the Som, introduced in 1993) which has, by and large, been reasonably successful in ensuring steady economic growth (currently 3.5 per cent). This was also an important factor in attracting foreign aid and investment, which has done much to bolster the economy. Despite the relatively small area of fertile land, agriculture remains the largest employer, occupying almost half of the working population and contributing a similar proportion of GDP. Half of the irrigated agricultural land is devoted to livestock, which is the mainstay of the farming sector. Other agricultural products include grain, potatoes, fruit and vegetables, cotton and tobacco. Kyrgyzstan’s economic potential lies in its mineral resources: there are known deposits of iron ore, copper, lead, zinc, mercury, antimony, tin, bismuth, vanadium, bauxite, molybdenum, manganese, silver and gold. Oil reserves, provisionally thought to be sufficient to cover domestic needs for 20 years, were located in 2001. There are also large amounts of decorative construction materials, such as marble, granite and limestone. The industrial sector was the main casualty of the post-Soviet era and output of metal goods, machinery, electronics and textiles has declined over the last decade. In the service sector, tourism has future potential, but given the dearth of necessary infrastructure, this must be considered a long-term objective. Finance grew quickly during the late 1990s following reform of the banking industry. In November 2000, the privatisation of several major state enterprises (including telecommunications, air transport and energy) was agreed by the Government despite serious domestic opposition. Kyrgyzstan belongs to the Central Asian Economic Union (ECO) which aims to promote regional economic co-operation and trade among the former Soviet republics and their neighbours. Kyrgyzstan is a member of the World Bank, the IMF (which in October 2001 agreed a US$100 million loan), the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (as a ‘country of operation’) and the Asian Development Bank. The United Nations Development Programme has also been active in Kyrgyzstan. Business: Kyrgyzstan is actively seeking overseas partners to modernise its industry and introduce new technology. To this end, it has enacted a number of laws to encourage and protect foreign investors; the law on property extends to all foreign investors the rights granted to Kyrgyz citizens with respect to ownership; foreigners are allowed to purchase businesses and buildings to carry out their activities, but the Government reserves the exclusive right to own land, natural resources, water, agriculture and livestock. There are significant tax holidays for foreign investors. In order to invest in Kyrgyzstan, foreigners must be registered with the Ministry of Economy and Finance. Applications to set up in Kyrgyzstan should be sent in the first instance to the State Committee on Foreign Investments and Economic Assistance (Goskominvest). The Government is particularly interested in encouraging investment in mining, industry – including electronics, light agricultural machinery and pharmaceuticals – petroleum, hydroelectricity and agriculture. Office hours: Mon-Fri 0900-1800, Sat 0900-1300 (Mar-Oct). Government office hours: Mon-Fri 0900-1700, Sat 0900-1300 (Nov-Feb). Commercial Information: The following organisations can offer advice: State Technical Committee of the Kyrgyz Republic on Foreign Investments and Economic Development, Room 210, ul Erkindik 58A, 720040 Bishkek (tel: (312) 223 292; fax: (312) 661 075; e-mail: fia@infotel.kg); or Ministry of Finance, Prospekt Erkindik 58, 720040 Bishkek (tel: (312) 228 922; fax: (312) 227 404); or Kyrgyz Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Foreign Affairs Department, Kievskaya 107, 720001 Bishkek (tel: (312) 210 574 or 210 565; fax: (312) 210 575). Information can also be obtained from the US Department of Commerce Business Information Service for the Newly Independent States, USA Trade Centre, 1401 Constitution Avenue, Washington, DC 20230, USA (tel (202) 482 4655; fax: (202) 482 2293; e-mail: bisnis@ita.doc.gov; website: www.bisnis.doc.gov). Climate Kyrgyzstan has a continental climate with relatively little rainfall. It averages 247 sunny days a year. In the summer, in the mountains, the mornings are generally fine and the afternoons hazy with occasional rain. In the lowlands, the temperature ranges between -4°/-6°C (21-24°F) in January to 16-24°C (61-75°F) in July. In the highlands, the temperatures range from -14°/-20°C (6.8°/-4°F in January to 8-12°C (46-54°F) in July. There are heavy snowfalls during winter. History and Government History: The Kyrgyz are descended from nomadic tribes who emigrated from northern Mongolia in the tenth century to the region around Lake Baikal in what is now known as Kyrgyzstan. They subsequently came under Mongol, then Chinese suzerainty – although they were afforded considerable autonomy by the standards of the age – before being incorporated into the Russian Empire at the end of the 19th century. In 1916 there was a revolt against Russian attempts to conscript the Kyrgyz to fight in World War I. The rebellion was ruthlessly suppressed, a reaction that explains why the Bolsheviks were welcomed in 1917-1918. Initially, Kyrgyzstan was included in the Russian Federation before gaining, at least in theory, greater independence – first as an autonomous region, and finally becoming the Kyrgyz Soviet Socialist Republic in 1934. The collectivisation programme of Stalin destroyed much of the nomadic lifestyle of the Kyrgyz, but the impracticality of collectives, given Kyrgyzstan’s geography, meant that more traditions survived here than in many other places in the USSR. During the years of Soviet hegemony, immigration by ethnic Russians was encouraged and Bishkek has had a Russian majority for many years. With the accession of Mikhail Gorbachev to the Kremlin in 1985, there was a purge of top officials and many of the old-guard communists who ran Kyrgyzstan were swept out of office. Despite a commitment to economic restructuring, the new leadership was as politically conservative as their predecessors. This was borne out during the attempted coup in 1991 when the Kyrgyz leadership supported the plotters of the State Committee for the State of Emergency. By this time, however, Kyrgyzstan had a new leader in Askar Akayev, a former head of the Kyrgyz Academy of Sciences, who aligned himself with the opposition Kyrgyz Democratic Movement. Akayev moved quickly to forestall the attempted communist takeover, which quickly evaporated when the Moscow coup collapsed. In October 1991, Akayev was elected unopposed as President. Kyrgyzstan became an independent republic within the Commonwealth of Independent States at the end of that year. Akayev’s radical economic reforms – popular support for which was shown by a referendum – have gained strong support in the West and agencies such as the IMF and the World Bank have granted loans to keep the economy and the new currency afloat. Akayev is using the Turkish model of a non-fundamentalist Islamic policy coupled with Western free-market economics as the basis for his reforms. The strategy has only been partially successful: the economy is still in a poor condition and the political structure riven with corruption and in-fighting. The government also faces growing opposition from Islamist movements which have been active throughout Central Asia during the last decade. In December 1995, Akayev was re-elected for a second five-year term defeating two other candidates and attracting 60 per cent of the vote. The parliamentary poll in February 2000 returned the Communist Party as the largest single bloc though without an overall majority; however, Akayev supporters remained in control of the assembly. Akayev himself once again came before the electorate in October 2000, and secured a third term with three-quarters of the poll. With the change in US policy towards Central Asia which followed the 11 September 2001 attacks, Kyrgyzstan has accepted military support from the US. It has also developed closer relations with China with whom it has held joint security exercises Government: Under the constitution accepted by referendum in 1994, legislative power is vested in the bicameral 105-strong Jogorku Kenesh. One-third of its members sit in a permanent lower chamber; the other two-thirds meet twice a year in the upper chamber. The whole parliament is elected every five years, as is the president, who holds executive power along with an appointed prime minister and Council of Ministers, subject to the approval of the Jogorku Kenesh. Copyright © 2003 Columbus Publishing Ltd.