I thank Ben who has edited this post and published at Global Voices Online and Neweurasia (Originally published at Global Voices and Neweurasia). It was nice to collect opinions of people through the kyrgyz blogs.

The citizens of Kyrgyzstan, a nominally Muslim country, have an interesting history with Islam: While the nomadic Kyrgyz haven’t really been introduced to the religion before the 18th century, Kyrgyzstani Uzbeks from the Ferghana Valley practice a more traditional form of Islam. During the Soviet era, religion was pushed to the sidelines of society, but Islam has seen some revival since Kyrgyzstan’s independence in 1991, again mostly in the southern rural parts of the country. Read the rest of this entry »

Ben Maritz, who is travelling in Central Asia now, has written another post about the Water Policy of Kyrgyzstan and aggrevated relations of Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan on this issue:

Kyrgyzstan’s greatest natural resource is its water, which flows down from its Tian Shan and Pamir mountains into the Syr Darya and Amu Darya (also known as the Oxus) rivers that lead to its neighbors. During the soviet era, this water was used mainly for the thirsty production of cotton in the valleys of Uzbekistan. Since independance in 1991, as the various central asian countries struggled to make the transition to market-based economies, each has been trying to monetize whatever assets the Stalin era gerrymandering left them with. For most countries, this is mostly natural gas. Kyrgyzstan, however, has no gas, and so has taken to trying to sell their water to their neighbors: threatening to dam up the rivers for power production if Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan do not provide cut-rate shipments of natural gas.

The predictable result of this has been a very tense relationship between the two countries, which has led to occasional border skirmishes and vastly restricted regioal commerce, hobbling Kyrgyztans economy, and making border crossings very difficult. The Shanghai Cooperation Organization, the regional politicial club, has made resolving water disputes a top priority, and some progress has been made, but still the main borders between Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan are closed — the two countries’ capitals are can be passed only thorugh Khazakstan.

I’ve read an article at the BusinessNewEurope written by Katya Malofeeva and Tim Brenton. The article was telling about Putin’s international legacy. And there was also a case about Russia’s influence in the region of Central Asia.

In Central Asia, Russia has had more success in building relations with the former republics, but a new great game has emerged in the region, largely focused on control of the area’s wealth of natural resource. The Russians remain on top of this struggle for influence, but are being forced to compete on a more level playing field with the US and China.

Most recently, the new theme of energy emerged in Russia’s dealings with other countries in the former Soviet Union. Russia is trying to defend its monopoly in distributing gas to world markets from Central Asia, and was a major opponent of the construction of the BTC pipeline, which bypasses Russia…

Russia is really beeing a major State in the world due to its own energy potential and the resources from Central Asia, especially Turkmenistan. As Russia has the greatest influence and role within Central Asian countries, former USSR republics.

Time for analyzing the results of the held Shanghai Cooperation Organization’s Summit in Bishkek has already come. Most of the people believe that the Summit was organized well and Kyrgyzstan has attained a lot of positive results. Other experts articulate the country, after the SCO summit, has got a negative image for the Western World.

Reading the Western Newspapers I have realized that people there think about the SCO as a strong alternative to the NATO. I also thought and still think so. And today I have been giving an interview for RFE/RL radio in Bishkek on this issue.

There were three persons came to the roundtable [interview with three people]: Adil Turdukulov, Young Politicians Forum’s member, someone from the pro-Government Party of Labor and Unity and the third one was me.

That guy from the party was telling that Kyrgyzstan attracted the attention of a lot of people abroad. And one of the main achievements from the Summit is the publicly announced, by PRC Chairman Hu Jintao, information about building a new road for Train which would unite Kyrgyzstan and China.

Adil’s ideas about the Summit were not clear for me. For instance he commented that It’s held very well and we need closely to colloborate with neighboring countries in the framework of SCO. “We have to refuse from Great Liberal Ideas and give a priority to short-term economic interests”, he added. In fact, that means, i think, the country could turn over the way of Democracy if either China or Russia would suggest any help.

I was telling that SCO reminds me the Warsaw Treaty Group wxisted during the time of Cold War opposed to NATO. So, it seems much more as a Military Block than a real economic cooperation union. Everything, in fact, including the Charter accepted in Bishkek was saying this organization is Anti-Nato, Anti-American.

Another thing I mentioned was about the Taiwan Issue, what about I was telling you last time. I had informed you that Kyrgyzstan has recognized Taiwan as inseparable part of China. It has happened after Uzbekistan has done the same supporting Beijing centred One-China Policy of the PRC. I think this is one of the signals Kyrgyzstan did to West, saying “we give more priority to China and Russia than you…”.

I also commented the argument of some guys about positive results of holding the Summit. I was opposing to this thesis as I see the country couldn’t even lobby it’s own ideas, as Hydro-Energy Cooperation. There is supported another idea of creating Energy Club under the SCO, which covers just oil and gas what Kyrgyzstan does not have. This means that Kyrgyzstan and tajikistan, both are rich of hyrdo-energy potential, are too week to lobby their own visions at the Great Shanghai Organization.

Just sitting in the computer-room of the Kyrgyz Service of the Radio of Liberty in Bishkek, as I was invited for their round-table on SCO summit results. So, everyone, who is in Bishkek can listen my speech at this the radio. I cannot remember what the FM is this. But you can also listen the podcasting through their web-site: www.azattyk.kg

Another news, yesterday Ben has suggested to write round-ups from Kyrgyz blogosphere for the Global Voices Online. As my english is not well to be more professional my stuff, he suggested his help on reediting them. So, I’ll write to them as soon as possible, if there is any interesting stuff from the KG Blogosphere :).

Another one is we are in a process of writing a new appeal on SCO summit held in Bishkek. I mean that Youth liberal Platform I take part at. That appeal will not be as support of the summit results or just critics. We’ll say we would not like to turn off the way forward to West and the United States. i think it is relevant for today’s situation as every western authoritative media has called the summit as “anti-western”. I also think it is built to stand against the west and USA, therefore I don’t support the idea of beeing with China, Russia and other Central Asian countirs in a one military block!!!

Yes, one more news. That is I will attend American Courses in Bishkek to improve my English forehead. So, see my English after three months to be more professional. And i hope I can begin writing for Neweurasia too…

Interesting post is written by Neweurasia contributor from Uzbekistan Jamiyat, and points you made we can see in other CA countries, particularly in Tajikistan and the south part of Kyrgyzstan that borders with Uzbekistan and TJ.

I think the one decision of making different the situation is just decreasing the role of the State in business and other spheres of life, excluding citizens security and a little social care. That’s the one only problem-solving mechanism, I think. That’s called as “Laissez Fair”…

Once I had a conversation with an old man in a village near Tashkent, Uzbekistan. He spoke about the Soviet times, about the social welfare system, salaries, and about his years-long money savings in the Soviet Sberbank, which he never got back after the independence, and many other things, which soon got me bored and I did not listen to him anymore.

But there was one thing he told me, which I still remember. He complained that so many people are leaving his village for Russia in spring and summer that there is usually no men in the village to bring the coffin of a deceased person to the cemetery. The elderly can not do that, women are not allowed, so families of the deceased are forced to ask soldiers from a nearby military garrison to help them carry the corpse. “This is a real Hereafter”-he called it then. One can hear similar stories all around the country nowadays…

A lot of Uzbeks (like many other Central Asians) are leaving their homes, families and children for a better payment, opportunity and simply a better life. Some are lucky and successful find a seasonal job with good payment and honest employers. Some are subject to a real slavery, humiliating living and working conditions, bullying of policemen and attacks of neo-fascists….

The first step towards solving a problem is accepting it, but it seems in Uzbekistan it is preferred to close eyes on that or hide it. Instead Uzbeks are promised a great future, just like in the old Soviet times. All know, though, what happened to Communists in the end.

Whole text can be reached at: uzbekistan.neweurasia.net

The last three days Kyrgyz bloggers were active on issue of SCO summit. Some of them provided their readers with beautiful photoes of summit participants, others were discussing these theme quoting to Mainstream Media sources. So, I’ll make round-up for the last three days. i hope it’ll be interesting and useful for you, if yes, just let me know.

morrire has just published photoes from today’s meeting of the Central Asian Countries presidents, and their counterparts from Russia, Cina, Iran and Afghanistan. She has over 25 photoes, which include just everything from today’s event.

azzzik also took part at SCO summit as a reporter. He publishes a photo, where all presidents are sitting, and he’s shot from behind. He says, that before he had the same photo, but with Condolise Rise.

Another Bishkek-based photo-blogger, antipodean_wor, posts a small article with photoes, which says about the “extraordinary security measures in Bishkek”. He writes “Because of the summit our provincial Bishkek has been a subject of extraordinary security measures it has never seen in his 150 -year history. The streets are closed along the routes of the presidential cars… each one is accompanied by two helicopters…”.

zigeunerin_kgz and azzzik, photobloggers and journalists of AkiPRESS News agency, presented a photoreport of Aircrafts, came for participation at SCO summit in Bishkek. There are aircrafts of Presidents of China, Kazakhstan, Russia, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Mongoly, Iran, Afghanistan, Ministers from India and Pakistan.

zigeunerin_kgz and azzzik also presented photoreport of August 14-15 meetings of SCO summit participants. There are photos of delegations from China, Kazakhstan, Russia, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Mongoly, Iran, India, Pakistan and Afghanistan.

Today, zigeunerin_kgz was making news from her office from russian TV RTR. At the another post zigeunerin_kgz says about the problem of translation of the China Leader’s speech. She says because of it noone has quoted him among the Kyrgyz News agencies.

markgrigorian made a report for central_asia LJ community about the preparation of Bishkek to the SCO Summit 2007. In his post he says that Kyrgyzstan has never seen so many Presidents in it’s own territory, and because of it the main International Airport in Bishkek was closed.

A day before the summit, abellans was thinking over a new surprizes.

antipodean_wor reported about the “Traffic deadlock on the streets of Bishkek: the main roads had been periodically closed for both traffic and pedestrians. The reason - there is a summit of 6 presidents (Russia, China, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan and Tadjikistan)”. He had included some photoes of the street.

The another issue bloggers were interested at was the travel within Kyrgyzstan. For instance, talve went to Naryn and after coming made a beautiful photoreport of the place. antipodean_wor reports about the salty lake near issyk-Kul. somurzakov posts pictures of summer Issyk-Kul. nurba, another Kyrgyzstani blogger, who is currently working in Singapore, is going to the Philippines soon and trying to get a visa for it. he publishes photoes of his pilipino counterparts.
That is all. I’m to have met you once again.

It is very interesting of reading the posts of foreigners, tourists, who are telling about their trip to Kyrgyzstan. Today I’ve found another one, Christina wrote about her travel to Naryn at TravelBlog.

I got back from visiting Naryn yesterday, a lovely city nestled in the mountains in kind of the middle of the country. The weather was refreshing and cool, such a change from Bishkek, where I was completely unable to sleep last week because it was just SO HOT! But now that I’m back, for some reason, the weather smells like fall and there’s a bit of a breeze, for which I am incredibly grateful…

And next the pictures from Naryn. It really is a beautiful city. I’d been told before that Bishkek is European (comparatively), Osh is Uzbekified, and (aside from the villages) the place to find the realKyrgyz life is Naryn. Almost everyone speaks Kyrgyz here, which meant that I was very grateful that I came with Nazgul and a friend of hers from Naryn, Eliza. We had a great time.

You can take a bus or a marshutka to Naryn, but it’s advisable to take a taxi, given that the trip is at least 4 hours. So we bounced up and down and I prayed that we wouldn’t crash the whole way there. The mountains are gorgeous, and I included a bunch of pics so you get some idea of the scenery. I HAVE to come back next year and do some hiking! Also along the way are a lot more people living in yurts, at least for the summer. Most of them seem to be raising herds of horses or herding sheep or selling kimiz, the mare’s milk that I am less than enchanted with, along the side of the road. We also saw a huge animal market taking place on Saturday - it really felt like we were getting the authentic Kyrgyz experience.

Naryn isn’t too big, although I’m not sure how many people live there. We walked allover the city on Saturday, and I’ve thrown in a picture of the central square. We went to the Art Museum (had to negotiate a cheaper price for me, as most foreigners have to pay a very inflated rate to get in), and I’ve included a picture of a hockey game And they had a yurt all set up, with all their beautiful blankets and hangings.

whole text you can read here: http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Kyrgyzstan/blog-191873.html 

The political situation in uzbekistan, as you know is awful. Every day, there is a lot of human rights amusing, killings and arrests of politically active people. So, here the open appeal.

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