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.

Another tourist-blogger writes about the Kyrgyz Hospitality:

They Kyrygz people we met in the mountains were invariably sweet. They welcomed our “Community based tourism” with genuine hospitality. Having come from China, I was shocked that they didn’t try to sell us anything along the way. I saw in them the same patience and kindness that I think can be found in the people of the sierra around the world.

Emil Umetaliev, Kyrgyz Concept travel company President - is one of the most respectable person for me in Kyrgyzstan. The reason of my respect is not only based on perfect service of the “Kyrgyz Concept” company, the main thing is he knows a real situation in Kyrgyzstan, and understands the way of decision. He thinks as usual liberal person, and I found out at his office quote of von Hayek, person who did a lot for developing of Liberal ideas in the world. He also tries to support some ideas from Civil Society Organizations, particularly of youth… So, today I’ve read his interview at 24.kg News Agency, and his thoughts were really interesting, and close to mine.

E.Umetaliev: Talks about free travel visa regime for USA and Western Europe are on for many years. Everybody understands that visa regime is outdated and needs to be entirely changed. However, it has only been simplified. Just like you can not be a little pregnant, the visa regime can not be simplified.

 

Even the most closed states try to attract tourists, especially from Europe, Japan and USA. We offer our services when we invite people to visit our country. If we invite tourists we should cancel visa regime. Visa is always a restriction. It is an instrument of foreign policy used for those countries which tourists are not welcomed. If to cancel the visa regime, tourists from Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan China will visit Kyrgyzstan which is on the way, only because it is visa free. Even the most conservative predictions say that the influx of tourists will grow at least by 20-30 percent.