- Two drowned as boat with Humanitarian Aid turns over – 8 July 2008/Asia-PLUS Daily Blitz
- Aga Khan Foundation helps local communities in south of Kyrgyzstan resolve their irrigation problems – 4 July 2008/AKIpress
- Institute of Ismaili Studies supports organization of Summer Camps in Gorno Badakshan – 4 July 2008/Asia-PLUS Daily Blitz
- UNICEF, Aga Khan Foundation, President’s Administration ink MoU in producing cartoon serial for children of preschool age – 2 July 2008/AKIpress
- Round table meetings held to discuss the results of the First National NGOs Forum – 1 July 2008/Asia-PLUS Daily Blitz
- UCA, MOE sign memorandum of understanding – 30 June 2008/Asia-PLUS Daily Blitz
- President Bakiev visits UCA campus construction site in Naryn – 26 June 2008/AKIpress
- 36 companies awarded on best environment performance – 25 June 2008/Pakistan Press International Information Services
- Sindh education boost: World donors gave Rs 839.373 million during January 2006-April 2008 – 24 June 2008/Business Recorder
- MOI makes official statement on the latest development in Khorog – 23 June 2008/Asia-PLUS Daily Blitz
- Aga Khan Development Network “Mobilizing Communities, Moving Mountains” opens in Osh city – 20 June 2008/AKIpress
- Kyrgyz Epics Celebrated in Theatre, Photography Exhibit – 20 June 2008/The Times of Central Asia
- FMFB-T, Unistream establishes cooperation – 19 June 2008/Asia-PLUS Daily Blitz
- Tajikistan: Tensions Rising Over Food Prices In Remote East – 18 June 2008/Radio Free Europe Documents and Publications
TWO DROWNED AS BOAT WITH HUMANITARIAN AID TURNS OVER
8 July 2008
Asia-PLUS Daily Blitz
DUSHANBE, July 8, 2008, Asia-Plus /Avaz Yuldoshev/ — Two employees of the Aga Khan Foundation (AKF) – Tajik national Afzalsho Pulikshoyev and Afghan national Abdulbasir Nuzur – were drowned on July 6 as the boat with humanitarian aid turned over in the Panj River, according to the Ministry of Interior (MoI). The source at a MoI said that the accident had taken part in the area of Khumroghi, Vanj district in Gorno Badakhshan. “An operation to seek bodies is under way,” the source said.
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Aga Khan Foundation helps local communities in south of Kyrgyzstan resolve their irrigation problems
4 July 2008
AKIpress
The pump station was officially opened in the presence of Executive Director of MSDSP KG, Zahir Dharshi, Deputy Akim of Alai district Uulkan Mamyrova, as well as representatives of local administration and local communities, AKDN told AKIpress.
Mountain Societies Development Support Program (MSDSP KG) of Aga Khan Foundation has been working in Arpatektir village of Alai district since 2006 and promotes the establishment of village organizations, namely “Yntymak” and “Arpatektir”. MSDSP KG programs include rural support (RSP), early childhood development, and public health promotion. Since 2006, RSP projects have provided support to the poorest families through goat and poultry breeding projects, improving breed and productivity of livestock, increasing potato yields through supply of qualitative seed varieties, and rehabilitation of irrigation systems.
For 20 years, the community of Arpatektir village has lived through a lack of irrigation water. In 1986 the construction of the pump station was started but was not completed. The station was completely ruined raising a big concern among local community. The construction of the new pump station and canal rehabilitation has been implemented due to financial support of MSDSP KG, which has allocated 874 000 soms. The contribution of local community which included labour, monetary, materials and supplies, was 220 000 soms. The total cost of the project was more than 1 million soms.
As a result of this partnership with local community, 290 households in Arpatektir village will benefit with irrigation water and 40 hectares of land will be irrigated. This will enable the population to increase its agricultural yield for local consumption and for sale as well as kitchen gardens.
Mountain Societies Development Support Program in Kyrgyzstan (MSDSP KG), which is a program of Aga Khan Foundation, was initiated in September 2003. The main objective of this program is to promote sustainable social and economic development of mountain areas of Kyrgyzstan in partnership with local communities. Rural Support Program (RSP) is one of the programs of MSDSP KG. Since 2003, 52 infrastructure projects have been completed in Alai and Chonalai districts of Osh oblast.AKIpress
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INSTITUTE OF ISMAILI STUDIES SUPPORTS ORGANIZATION OF SUMMER CAMPS IN GORNO BADAKHSHAN
4 July 2008
Asia-PLUS Daily Blitz
KHOROG, July 4, 2008, Asia-Plus /Shonavruz Afzalshoyev/ — Summer camps in Gorno Badakhshan have opened their doors to local schoolchildren this week. Speaking in an interview with Asia-Plus, Said Shoghazanfarov, the head of the GBAO regional education workers’ trade unions, said that 13 out-of-town and 70 school’s camps to accommodate totaling some 5,000 children and teenagers had been organized in the region. According to him, local authorities have allocated some 130,000 somonis for organization of summer camps and further 32,000 somonis have been provided by education workers’ trade unions. Besides, five out-of-town camps have been organized by Ismaili Tarikat and Religious Education Committee (ITRECT). The ITRECT youth program coordinator in Gorno Badakhshan Mamadsaid Mamadsaidov said that the camps will accommodate more than 1,500 10th and 11th grade school students.
“The education program of our camps includes three themes: human being and society; pluralism; and intellectual activity,” said the youth program coordinator. “Along with entertainment events, holidaymakers will also learn how to develop business-plans and how to act in case of possible natural disasters.” According to Mamadsaidov, their camps have been organized under support of the London-based Institute of Ismaili Studies (IIS). The Institute of Ismaili Studies (IIS) is a contemporary undertaking by His Highness the Aga Khan to study Islam in general and Ismailism in particular. The Institute draws on the worldwide knowledge and experience of institutions and scholars to create awareness through programs, publications, and partnerships in the field of Islamic studies. Established by His Highness the Aga Khan in 19977, the IIS promotes scholarship and learning of Muslim cultures and societies both historical and contemporary.
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UNICEF, Aga Khan Foundation, President’s Administration ink MoU in producing cartoon serial for children of preschool age
2 July 2008
AKIpress
UNICEF, Early Child Development Project Management Unit of President’s Administration, Aga Khan Foundation and the Soros Foundation – Kyrgyzstan today signed the Memorandum of Understanding, UNICEF told AKIpress.
The MoU was signed to strengthen partnership in producing an animated cartoon in Kyrgyz language “Keremet Koch” that is broadcast on the national television since November 2006.
The charatecters of the cartoon serial, Aktan and Akilai, invite children of preschool age to on amazing journey to 5 imaginary countries – health, knowledge, art, skillful hands, country of unexpected journeys.
Since Keremet Koch gained a wide popularity, the partners decided to continue this project in 2008 and 2009.
A new partner, Soros Foundation – Kyrgyzstan, will join this project now. The project was created and supported by UNICEF, Early Childhood Development Project of President’s Administration, Aga KHan Foundation.AKIpress
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ROUNDTABLE MEETINGS HELD TO DISCUSS THE RESULTS OF THE FIRST NATIONAL NGOS FORUM
1 July 2008
Asia-PLUS Daily Blitz
DUSHANBE, July 1, 2008, Asia-Plus /Bahrom Mannonov/ — A series of roundtable meetings were held at the Guest House Poytakht from June 25 to June 28 to discuss the results of the first national NGOs forum that was held in Dushanbe on May 14-15 this year. Shamsiddin Karimov, director of the Tajikistan Development Foundation, which was initiator of the meetings, said that more than 80 representatives of the state institutions, business circles and NGOs had attended those meetings. “They had an opportunity to meet with delegates of the forum and familiarize themselves with the national program for development of NGOs in the Tajikistan and the code of the main principles of activities of NGOs in Tajikistan that had been adopted at the forum,” Karimov said.
We will recall that the forum, staged by Tajikistan Development Foundation under financial support of the Civil Society Program of the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN), brought together more than 40 delegates from all regions of the country. The forum participants are discussing the national program for development of NGOs in Tajikistan and the code of the main principles of activities of NGOs in the country. These documents have been worked out within the framework of long- and medium-term programs of the government such as national development strategy for 2006-2015 and the poverty reduction strategy for 2006-2008 and are dedicated to provide transparency of authorities’ activities and create conditions for eradicating corruption, lawlessness and abuse of office, as well as promote improvement of living conditions of the population in Tajikistan and observance of rights and freedoms of citizens guaranteed by the Constitution. To consolidate efforts of NGOs and community for
solution of the most important political, economic and social issues the forum participants decided to set up the National Association of NGOs of Tajikistan. “The roundtable meetings participants discussed ways of implementation of this decision and mechanisms of using potentials of association, which is being established,” Karimov said, noting that similar meetings will be held in other regions as well.
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UCA, MOE SING MEMORANDUM OF UNDER STANDING
30 June 2008
Asia-PLUS Daily Blitz
DUSHANBE, June 30, 2008, Asia-Plus /Bahrom Mannonov/ — Tajikistan’s Ministry of Education (MoE) and the University of Central Asia (UCA) signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan on June 12. The MoE was signed on the sidelines of the CIS education ministries’ conference in Bishkek. According to the UCA, the memorandum will allow expanding cooperation in improvement of legal foundation for education cooperation, education standards and curricula as well as innovative approaches in vocational-technical education. Under the signed document, the School of Professional and Continuing Education (SPCE) will implement the program of vocational-technical education based on international standards. The University of Central Asia was founded in 2000 by the governments of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic and Tajikistan, and His Highness the Aga Khan.
The International Treaty and Charter establishing this secular and private University was signed by His Highness the Aga Khan and the Presidents of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic and Tajikistan, ratified by the respective parliaments and registered with the United Nations. Established in 2006, the School of Professional and Continuing Education is the University’s first operational academic program. The School is Central Asia’s first provider of formal, university-based, non-degree educational programs. It emphasizes tertiary short-cycle education (TSCE), which gives students intense training, usually in one year or less, that results in a widely accepted qualification to perform industry-specific tasks.
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President Bakiev visits UCA campus construction site in Naryn
26 June 2008
AKIpress
President Kurmanbek Bakiev today is making a working tour of Naryn oblast, reported president’s press office.
President Bakiev visited Akkyia area in the town of Naryn, where the University of Central Asia is under construction. The President was introduced to the projects implemented by the Aga Khan Development Network in Kyrgyzstan.
AKDN Resident Representative Nurjehan Mawani made a presentation of projects for children from mountainous parts of the country and micro-crediting.
President Bakiev acknowledged the AKDN for publication of popular children’s books in Kyrgyz language and said more such books should be published in future.
Then President Bakiev visited the construction site of educational building and campus of the University of Central Asia. UCA President Bogdan Krawchenko presented the project. Bogdan Krawchenko said the UCA will lay a big emphasis on IT and science specialists. The UCA is now recruiting its faculty who receive training in European educational institutions to work as university professors afterwards. Moreover, UCA offers English language and math training to school students, this way enabling them to become UCA students.
The overall size of the construction site is 251.58 hectares. The campus will include educational premises, student dormitory, cottages for UCA faculty, sport and recreation facilities, skiing base, student summer camp. The campus will also include parks, recreation zones, areas to conduct practical and research works. A Japanese architect designed the campus. The general layout was approved. At present, the bypass road and helicopter landing site are under construction.
President Kurmanbek Bakiev familiarized himself with Continuous Professional Education Project that offers education programs for 105 students of the town of Naryn.
The President said that the selected location of the University of Central Asia is good. “I think nobody will be surprised, when they will say in future that one should go to Naryn oblast for a quality education. I am strongly convinced that Naryn and Batken oblasts will become the most advanced and developed oblast of the country in 5-6 years,” Kurmanbek Bakiev said. President Bakiev wished success and good luck to all project participants.
The President is accompanied by Naryn oblast governor Omurbek Suvanaliev, MPs Askarbek Salymbekov and Narynbek Moldobaev.AKIpress
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36 companies awarded on best environment performance
25 June 2008
Pakistan Press International Information Services
Karachi, June 25 (PPI): The 5th Annual Environment Excellence Awards (AEEA) distribution ceremony will be held at a local hotel on July 2, 2008, to honour 36 best environment friendly companies of Pakistan.
National Forum for Environment & Health (NFEH) is organizing award ceremony where Sindh Minister for Environment and Alternative Energy, Askari Taqvi and Secretary Environment, Mir Hussain Ali will present the awards to the recipients.
The award has been instituted to recognize and promote the organizations which make an outstanding contribution to sustainable development. They aim to highlight policies, practices, processes and products from all sectors of business in the country, which help achieve economic and social development without harming the environment and natural resources.
The following companies will receive the awards:
AES LAL PIR, Aga Khan University Hospital, Attock Refinery Ltd., BHP Billiton, BP Pakistan Exploration & Production Inc., Clariant Pakistan Ltd., Dadex Eternit, Descon Engineering Ltd., English Biscuit Manufactures, Engro Chemicals Pakistan Ltd., Engro Polymer & Chemicals, Etimaad Engineering (Pvt.) Ltd., Glaxo SmithKline Pakistan, Gerrys Dnata, Habib Oils Mills, INDUS MOTOR COMPANY, International Industries Ltd., KAPCO, KSB PUMPS Company Ltd., National Refinery Ltd., Pak Arab Refinery Ltd., Pak Elektron Ltd.(PEL), Pakistan Steel Mills, Pakistan State Oil Co., Pakistan PTA, Pakistan Petroleum Ltd., Pakistan Oilfields Ltd., Pakistan International Airlines, Qarshi Industries (Pvt.) Ltd., Shakarganj Mills Ltd., Shell House, Serena Hotel, Sui Southern Gas Company Ltd., Siemens Pakistan Engineering Co Ltd., Tullow Pakistan (Pvt.) Ltd., Telenor Pakistan (Pvt.) Ltd.
A national conference on Environment Management will also be held prior to the award ceremony.
Dr. Sami uz Zaman Member Environment Tribunal Sindh, Naeem Mughal Director Technical Environment Protection Agency Sindh, Dr. Kaiser Waheed Chairman NFEH, M. Naeem Qureshi President NFEH, Zaheer Baig Chief Advisor NFEH will speak on various topics.
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Sindh education boost: World donors gave Rs 839.373 million during January 2006-April 2008
ISMAIL DILAWAR
24 June 2008
Business Recorder
International donor agencies donated over Rs 839.373 million funds to previous government during January 2006 to April 2008 to improve the education standard in Sindh. Out of 49,028 schools in the province, 7572 schools are non-functional whereas 29,035 schools are running without electricity and 5,037 without furniture.
Vowing stern action against those responsible for destroying education system of the province, Senior Minister and Minister for Education Pir Mazhar-ul-Haq said this while addressing the post-budget 2008-09 session of Sindh Assembly during the question hour.
To a query on the foreign funding, Haq said from January 2006 to April 2008 Pakistan received Rs 397.047 million from Asian Development Bank (ADB), Rs 392.000 million from Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA), Rs 27.941 million from Aga Khan Foundation/USAID/Royal Netherlands Embassy, 10.20 million from Road Sector Development Directorate/ADB, Rs 1.807 million from US Consulate, Rs 3.305 million from Commonwealth Education Fund: Save the Children, Rs 0.602 million from Unesco, Rs 1.204 million from Unesco, Rs 0.575 million from Unesco and Rs 4.692 million from The Give 2 Asia/The Asia Foundation under various development programmes in education sector.
Holding the district government system responsible for what he said destruction of the entire education sector, the provincial minister vowed to conduct an inquiry saying that those found guilty of any irregularity would be brought to justice.
He said his government had identified some 1300 schools, which were being used as “Autaqs” and “godowns” by some influential people, for re-opening while those involved would severely be punished. The government had planned to provide all missing facilities like electricity, furniture etc to schools and provided Rs 2.3 billion to districts, Rs 100 million each, in 2007-08 and the same amount would be given in the next financial year, Haq said.
He claimed that due to a lacklustre response of the previous government, 39 million euros World Bank grant for promotion of education in Sindh was lying unutilised. To see commitment of Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) led government not only the WB was ready to offer the grant but European Commission was also ready to give the same amount as a grant.
To a question by Humera Alwani from treasury benches, Haq said interest rate on foreign loans for education sector was 1 percent as donors were giving the amount as a soft-loan.
The education minister turned the tables on previous government when Arif Jatoi from opposition benches asked him why 41 posts were lying vacant in the two government monotechnic institutes in Fiaz Gunj and Thari Mirwah. The positions were not filled due to inability of the previous government to employ teaching and non-teaching staff in the two technical education institutes, Haq said adding his government could not fill the posts immediately during summer vacations.
Deputy Speaker Shehla Raza asked Leader of the Opposition Jam Madad Ali to discipline the opposition members. The education minister came up with an unsatisfactory answer when Alwani drew his attention towards an ever-increasing fee structure of private schools, saying that had his government fixed the fees no one would open the private schools.
Post-budget discussion: Sindh Assembly continued its general discussion during a post-budget 2008-09 session on Monday with treasury members welcoming but at the same time concerned about a poor law and order situation in the province and opposition members terming the fiscal document an eyewash and anti-people.
As usual the session started with at least 1:30 hours delay at 11:20 am at the Assembly Building with Deputy Speaker Shehla Raza as its chair in the absence of Speaker Nisar Ahmed Khuhro. On a point of order, Humera Alwani from treasury sought an explanation from the PPP dominated house on Kamran Tessori’s run-away from police custody asking who was responsible for the negligence soon after the deputy speaker resumed the session.
She asked that how people like former Chief Minister Dr Ghulam Arbab Rahim and Tessori, who was what she said involved in illegal allotments of government land, managed to leave the country while their names were enlisted in the Control Exit List? While the PPP leaders Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah, Home Minister Zulfiqar Mirza and other party bigwigs were sitting idol, queries of Alwani fell on the deaf ears as no one bothered to allay her concerns.
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MoI MAKES OFFICIAL STATEMENT ON THE LATEST DEVELOPMENTS IN KHOROG
23 June 2008
Asia-PLUS Daily Blitz
DUSHANBE, June 23, 2008, Asia-Plus /Avaz Yuldoshev/ — On Monday June 23, the Ministry of Interior (MoI) released an official statement about the latest developments in Khorog, the capital of the Gorno Badakhshan Autonomous Region (Gorno Badakhshan or GBAO). The statement, in particular, said that by president’s order a working led by the Minister of Interior Mahmadnazar Solehov arrived in Khorog on June 20 to investigate the situation in the city. “President’s order was initiated by an appeal of influential residents of Khorog Imomnazar Imomnazarov, Tolib Ayombekov, Yodqor Mamadaslamov and Mamadqoqir Mamadboqirov, in which together with concern about transfer of more troops to the region to strengthen the border they also expressed their readiness to support all undertakings on further strengthening of legality and public order in the region,” the statement said.
According to the statement, the situation in the region is now quite stable and local law enforcement agencies do not have any problems with maintaining public order in Gorno Badakhshan. Because of certain circumstances, a number of problems have arisen only in the regional administrative center; however they have not been so acute to assess the situation in Gorno Badakhshan as uncontrollable, the statement said. During its stay in Khorog, the working group held a meeting with heads of practically all mahalla (community) of Khorog and local youth leaders. The meeting demonstrated their interest in strengthening of legality and public order in Khorog. A June 21 meeting with khalifas (local clerics) assisted to clarify the situation. Khlifas expressed their readiness to support activities of the working group in the region, the statement said. “However, khalifas have had to admit some their omissions and indifference to processes that have taken place in Khorog over the past several
months, including activities of emissaries and volunteers of different parties and movements,” said the statement, “Having failed to enlist support of residents of other regions, they filled the city like locusts and organized unauthorized rallies, involving women and youth, who were not well aware of their true interests.” According to the statement, the problem of illegal possession of weapons, which is one reasons for destabilization and increase in crime in the region “was a focus of talks with local clerics, who are looking forward to visit of Mavlana Hazir-Imam Aga Khan IV and President Emomali Rahmon to the region.” This important event should be darkened by any selfish ends, the statement said. Meetings with authors of the letter to president that were also held on June 21 also confirmed their adherence to their promise to obey President Emomali Rahmon as the Supreme Commander of Chief. Under agreements reached during the meetings and with support of local
authorities, clerics and youth activists a campaign of a voluntary handover of illegally possessed weapons started in Khorog on June 22. The statement expressed hope that the results of the campaign will demonstrate adherence of Imomnazar Imomnazarov, Tolib Ayombekov, Yodqor Mamadaslamov and Mamadqoqir Mamadboqirov to their word given to the president and concern for peaceful life of residents.
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Aga Khan Development Network “Mobilizing Communities, Moving Mountains” opens in Osh city
20 June 2008
AKIpress
The Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN) exhibition entitled Mobilizing Communities, Moving Mountains was officially opened at the Kyrgyz Drama Theatre in Osh city by Vice-Prime Minister of Kyrgyzstan, Elmira Ibraimova, and the AKDN Representative in Kyrgyzstan, Nurjehan Mawani in the presence of numerous dignitaries from government, parliament, diplomatic community and representatives from regions and civil society. More than 3000 visitors are expected to view the Exhibition over two days.
Opening the exhibition, Vice-Prime Minister, Elmira Ibraimova noted: “I am very pleased that today in Osh we have a presentation of successful results and achievements of Aga Khan Development Network in Kyrgyzstan. I am glad to see the representatives of government, parliament, business community and civil society. I think that this kind of impressive presence symbolizes the contribution of AKDN to Kyrgyzstan and its regions.”
The Exhibition is part of the Golden Jubilee celebrations commemorating His Highness the Aga Khan’s 50th year as the Imam of the Shia Ismaili Muslim community. He is founder and chairman of the Aga Khan Development Network which works today in 30 countries of the world. Guided by the Islamic ethic of compassion for those less fortunate, AKDN works for the common good of all citizens, regardless of their gender, origin or religion.
“This Golden Jubilee Exhibition is a great occasion to underline the partnership between Aga Khan Development Network and all levels of government, local communities and institutions of civil society. It is indeed a unique event for everyone. All AKDN agencies will be under one roof demonstrating how partnership can mobilize and encourage individuals and communities to transform their own lives,” said Nurjehan Mawani during press conference before the opening ceremony.
Visitors to the Exhibition were delighted by the performance of the world-renowned Kyrgyz ensemble Tengir-Too and students of Ustatshakirt Center. Sponsored by the Aga Khan Music Initiative of Central Asia (AKMICA), the Tengir-Too launched its first regional tour of Kyrgyzstan at the Exhibition. This ensemble has already thrilled audiences in Europe and USA, by introducing them to the music that evokes the beauty of the Kyrgyz mountains. Guests were also treated to a stirring documentary depicting a remarkable journey from the deserts of West Africa to the foothills of the Himalayas to witness how culture can transform people’s lives. This film was specially made by AKTC to commemorate the Golden Jubilee.
The Aga Khan leads a community of 15 million Ismaili Muslims living in some 25 countries, mainly in Asia, Africa, the Middle East, Europe and North America. He is founder and chairman of the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN), a group of nine agencies with mandates ranging from health and education to architecture, microfinance, disaster reduction, rural development, and the promotion of private-sector enterprise and the revitalizations of historic cities – all of which are catalysts for development. The AKDN spends in excess of US$ 320 million annually on social and cultural development activities. In Kyrgyzstan, more than 600 people, most of who are local citizens, work within AKDN and its various agencies.
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Kyrgyz Epics Celebrated in Theatre, Photography Exhibit
20 June 2008
The Times of Central Asia
By Irina Bondarenko
TCA correspondent
BISHKEK June 20 (TCA Editions) – a project, “The Theatre of the Kyrgyz Epic,” has started in Kyrgyzstan with the support of the Fullbright programme, the US Embassy and the Aga Khan Trust for Culture. As part of this project there was a photo exhibition in the Museum of Fine Arts in Bishkek by Margaret Morton, who is a professor at the Cooper Union School of Art. The exhibition ran from June 5 to 19.
Morton graduated from Yale University School of Art and for a long time worked on charitable projects in the United States. She has illustrated four books about homeless people who were forced to make their own shelter in public places.
Margaret has exhibited her own work in New York in the New Museum of Contemporary Art, in the Lowinsky and Bodell galleries, in the Wexner Arts Centre and well known galleries and museums in Europe and Asia.
Her exhibition in Bishkek presented 46 photographs on large format, which tell the story of the productions of Kyrgyz epics on the New York theatre scene.
The photo session represents two shows which were put on in 2007: “Kereez” by the director of the folk ethnographic theatre “Sakhna” Nurlan Asanbekov and “Janyl-Myrza.” Based on epic tales, the shows told about Kyrgyz warriors — a hunter fighting with a mythological goat and an archer who never failed to hit her mark.
Morton became interested in Kyrgyzstan several years ago. In 2006 she put on her first exhibition in Bishkek of 24 large format photographs; that year the photographer visited places where the events of the Kyrgyz epics took place and learnt about the everyday life and customs of the Kyrgyz people.
The manager of the project “The Theatre of the Kyrgyz Epic” Altyn Kapalova thinks that this exhibition “reflects the interest of Americans in the unusual oral national creative tradition of the Kyrgyz, which touches on the problems of the relationship of man with nature and other people.”
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FMFB-T, UNISTREAM ESTABLISH COOPERATION
19 June 2008
Asia-PLUS Daily Blitz
DUSHANBE, June 19, Asia-Plus /Bahrom Mannonov/ – The First MicroFinance Bank of Tajikistan (FMFB-T) and Moscow-headquartered money transfer network Unistream have launched a joint project for development of network of offering money transfer services via FMFB-T’s branches in Tajikistan. Ms. Anna Ovchinnikova, PR-manager with Unistream, told Asia-Plus that thereby the money transfer network strengthens its positions in the country, developing its partnership network here and the FMFB-T’s customers get access to the Unistream services through the ban’s branches. According to her, the Unistream administration considers Tajikistan as an important direction of activity “because Tajikistan makes serious contribution to the CIS labor migration process.” She quoted the Unistream director general Suren Ayriyan as saying, “The money transfer market is growing in the post-Soviet area at a rapid pace and we estimate the annual growth at approximately 50 percent.” Mr.
Ayriyan noted that Unistream’s turnover in Tajikistan rose from $139 million in 2006 to $440 million in 2007. Over the first quarter of this year, Unistream’s transactions in Tajikistan have amounted to $106 million, which is $63 million more than in the same period of last year. Cooperating with nine financial institutions in Tajikistan, Unistream now operates more 465 service points in the country. Established in 2003, The First MicroFinance Bank was the first commercial bank in Tajikistan with a principal focus on the provision of microcredit lending. The Bank has a national mandate to provide a comprehensive range of financial services to the poor throughout the country. In addition to its Head Office in Dushanbe, the bank currently has branches in Khorog, Gharm, Khujand and in the Khatlon province. The bank is affiliated with the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN) and its shareholders are the Aga Khan Agency for Microfinance (AKAM), the Aga Khan Foundation (AKF),
International Finance Corporation (IFC) and KfW Bankengruppe. Unistream is a Moscow-headquartered money transfer network, offering a wide range of money transfer services to the clientele around the world. The Unistream money transfer system has been operating and expanding since 2001. It was founded by the Unistreum bank, and has grown into a network with over 25,000 agent outlets where Unistream services are available, in 85 countries worldwide. It is recognized as one of the most rapidly developing international money transfer networks in the former Soviet Union. Started in the Russia, Unistream has transformed itself into the efficient, modern network spanning across North America, Latin America, Central Africa, Australia, Eastern and Western Europe, Asia and the CIS countries. The company has partnership agreements with over 200 financial institutions worldwide, jointly developing a smooth, secure and robust money transfer system. While the average growth in the Russian money
transfer sector was estimated at about 70 percent in 2005, Unistream volume of transfers just under three times in the very same year. For example, in 2005, the volume of transfers from England via Unistream increased 8 times, to Kyrgyzstan – 4 times, Moldova – 3 times, Ukraine – 4 times. Unistream is the ultimate leader in both inward and outward remittances in Armenia.
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Tajikistan: Tensions Rising Over Food Prices In Remote East
18 June 2008
Radio Free Europe Documents and Publications
(c) 2008 Federal Information & News Dispatch, Inc.
News Stories and Documents
Tensions between Tajikistan’s government and local leaders in the remote eastern Badakhshan region appear to be reaching a critical stage.
The inhabitants of the sparsely populated area have for weeks complained of rising food prices and what they call increasing interference from the central government.
More than 500 people gathered on June 18 in front of the government building in Khorog, the capital of the Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Region in eastern Tajikistan’s high mountains. They were protesting news that the government had sent additional troops to the region with a plan to arrest local leaders.
“I heard that [the government] brought troops here,” one female demonstrator told RFE/RL’s Tajik Service. “I am a mother of two sons, and I do not want there to be bloodshed again and mothers to be in mourning again. We gathered here not just to prevent war, but also to learn why they brought these forces here and what the purpose of these troops is. Let [the authorities] explain why they are here. If they tell us we will leave peacefully. We do not want anything else.”
Excluded From Politics
Badakhshan makes up nearly half of Tajikistan, with much of the land several thousand meters above sea level. Many of its 500,000 people are Ismaili Muslims — Shi’ite followers of the Aga Khan. In a country of mainly Sunni Muslims, they have been largely excluded from Tajik politics. The Badakhshanis often found themselves the targets of various groups during Tajikistan’s 1992-97 civil war, which claimed some 100,000 lives.
Since the war’s end, the people of the region have seemed to prefer living secluded lives. But they have recently complained aboutincreasing prices of basic goods, a lack of electricity, and what they see as growing meddling by the central government.
Local leaders not affiliated with the government have been leading the criticism. The opposition Social Democratic Party has also seized on the discontent in a bid to garner greater popular support, not onlyregionally but throughout Tajikistan, where people face problems similar, though not as severe,as those in Badakhshan.
The head of the party’s local branch, Alim Sherzamonov, was among those whobroke the news that hundreds of soldiers had been transferred to Khorog as a precautionary move ahead of a planned to visit to the area next month by President Emomali Rahmon.
Badakhshan residents say they are fearfulthe government is preparing a crackdown similar to one last month in the southwestern Kulob area, which is also experiencing rising costs for basic goods. In May, the Tajik government sent troops into Kulob to capture a local figure the authorities claimed was a major drug trafficker.The troopscaptured the man, but several local residentsdied duringthe operation.
‘No One Is Telling Us Anything’
People in Badakhshan are now wondering if the same thing is about to happen there. Adding to their fears are reports that Badakhshan’s top government official, Qosim Qodir, has evacuated his family to the capital.
“My reason for being here is to find out why the head of the oblastsent his family to Dushanbe,” Sabzali Mamadrizoev, one of the demonstrators, told RFE/RL’s Tajik Service. “If everything here is so peaceful, why did he send his family there? He has not said anything, he has not told the people what is going on or held any meetings about it. Our goal is to learn why no one is telling us anything.”
The demonstrators dispersed on June 18 after local officials promised that the additional troops sent to the region would be withdrawn. The demonstrators have vowed to return in two days if that promise is not kept.
Despite being located in the remote southeastern corner of Central Asia, Tajikistan is important to both Russia and the United States. The country hosts a Russian motorized rifle division and a modest NATO contingent engaged in support operations for U.S.-led efforts in Afghanistan.
Salimjon Aioubov of RFE/RL’s Tajik Service contributed to this report
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