<<>><<>><<>><<>>----------------------------------------<<>><<>><<>><<>>
<<>><<>><<>>.....TURKISTAN NEWSLETTER...ISSN:--1386-6265....<<>><<>><<>>
<<>><<>><<>>--------------------------------------------<<>><<>><<>><<>>
<<>><<>><<>>........Editor/Manager: Mehmet Tutuncu......<<>><<>><<>><<>>
<<>><<>><<>>......Business: S. Bogut, H. Savas..............<<>><<>><<>><<>>
<<>><<>><<>>...Features: I. Noyan-Izmirli, Y. Puersuen...<<>><<>><<>><<>>
<<>><<>><<>>......Technical: T. Ates, K. Cagiltay.......<<>><<>><<>><<>>
<<>><<>>......Associate Editors: A. Baguirov, A. Eren, Z. Kadir....<<>><<>>
<<>><<>>....Editorial Board: Dr. Robert M. Cutler, Dr. H.M. Hubey....<<>><<>>
<<>><<>>...Dr. T. Kocaoglu, Dr. H.B. Paksoy, Dr. N. Sariahmetoglu...<<>><<>>
<<>><<>>--------------------------------------------------------<<>><<>>
<<>><<>><<>><<>>.....Volume:97-1:20---8--July--1997.....<<>><<>><<>><<>>
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<>Uze kok tengri asra yagiz yer kilintukta ekin ara kisi ogli kilinmis<>
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<<>><<>>_______Archives of the Turkistan Newsletter are at:_____<<>><<>>
<<>><<>>___<http://www.euronet.nl/users/sota/turkistan.htm>_____<<>><<>>
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_____________ KYRGYZ NEWS
_____________ News
_____________ Turkish Press Review
_____________ US military: Central Asian exercise planned
_____________ Actors From Kazan Harassed by Police in Moscow
_____________ REGIONAL PROFILE: REPUBLIC OF TYVA
_____________ Ford Dealers in Central Asia
_____________ Site Announcements
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KYRGYZ NEWS - 4 JULY 1997
1. Visit of General Andrei Nikolaev, director of the Russian border guard
service, is postponed, press service of the Russian border guard unit in
Kyrgyzstan announced on 4 July. It is the second delay, originally it was set
for 24 June, then had been postponed for 4 July. No reason of it and no new
date has been announced.
2. People's Assembly of Parliament decided today not to deprive Boris Vorobyev
of deputy immunity. Meeting on it had been held behind closed doors and
Procurator General, Asanbek Sharshenaliyev, attended. Procurator General
office accused Vorobyev of tax evasion, saying he did not pay 7.6 million som
(about $1.5 million at that time) taxes. He was elected to Parliament in 1995.
3. Vice prime minister Mira Jangaracheva held a meeting on housing problems in
Bishkek today. It was held behind the closed doors and representatives from
Security ministry, Interior ministry, City Procurator office and City
administration were invited.
Members of the Yntymak movement held 3 demonstrations in front of the
government building in Bishkek last month, demanding to resolve their
economical problems. On 5 June, Prime minister Apas Joumagulov received their
representatives, Jangaracheva met with them on 30 June. The movement unites
young people, gathered in the capital from countriside, majority of them are
homeless. They demanded to alow them to build houses outside of the city by
their own. At the last demonstration, they accused city administration of
sabotaging PM's decision and wanted it to resign.
4. President press service announced in Bishkek today that President Askar
Akayev sent telegrams to U.S. President Bill Clinton and vice president Al
Gore, congratulating them with the Independence Day. U.S embassy in Bishkek
will hold a reception tonight. New U.S ambassador to Kyrgyzstan, Anne Marie
Sigmund, was appointed early this week.
5. Government press service announced in Bishkek today that Japanese
delegation, led by Uzami Tekleshi had arrived in Kyrgyzstan. They will collect
facts on mining industry and precious metals deposits in Kyrgyzstan. According
to the Kyrgyz government, results of the Jpanese researches will be published
in September.
6. Press service of the Legislative Assembly announced in Bishkek today that
the Assembly passed 98 laws in the period between 1 September 1996 and 1 July
1997. Main drafts, passed in the Assembly last parliamentarian year, were New
Criminal Code, Labour Code, Custom Code and second part of Civil Code.
However, only 49 of the drafts, passed in the Assembly, have been signed by
the President. Vacation of the Legislative Assembly began on 1 July.
7. Foreign ministry press service announced in Bishkek today that newly
appointed minister, Muratbek Imanaliyev, started to work as minister on 3
July. However, he has not been presented to the ministry staff yet.
Imanaliyev was appointed by President Akayev on 1 July. Former minister, Roza
Otunbayeva, was appointed as Kyrgyz Aambassador to Great Britain the same day.
Imanaliyev was first Kyrgyz foreign minister after independence.
Chronology of changes in the Ministry is:
1. Jan.1991 - Feb.1992: minister Muratbek Imanaliyev,
2. Feb.1992 - May 1992: minister Roza Otunbayeva,
3. May 1992 - Dec.1992: acting minister Marat Saralinov,
4. Dec.1992 - Dec.1993: minister Ednan Karabayev,
5. Dec.1993 - May 1994: acting minister Myrza Kaparov,
6. May 1994 - Jun.1997: minister Roza Otunbayeva,
7. July 1997 - minister Muratbek Imanaliyev.
8. Parlament press service announced in Bishkek today that 5 members of Kyrgyz
Parliament would take part in a seminar on parliamentarism, organised by the
USIA in the American Congress in Washington, DC. They are: Valeriy Avdeev,
Jamgyrbek Bokoshev, Jolbors Jorobekov, Alisher Sabirov and Alevtina Pronenko.
Seminar will last a month and they will travel to the U.S. on 12 July.
9. International conference Woman Role in Society is held in Turkey now.
Kyrgyz representatives take part in it, two of them: Mira Urmambetova
(director of the Jyldyz firm) and Margarita Rumyantseva (director of the
Bishkeksyut firm) will deliver speeches at the conference.
10. Trial against the editorial board of the semi-governmental Kyrgyz
Madaniyaty (KM) weekly, set for 3 July, was postponed in Bishkek yesterday for
undefinite period. It is the 3rd postponement. Plaintiff in the case is Zamira
Sydykova, shief editor of the independent Res Publica weekly. She accused KM
of insulting her. Sydykova published a book, titled "Behind the Scenes of
Democracy in the Kyrgyz manner" early this year and KM wrote that it was a
book, written by imbecile person.
Sydykova was accused of insulting state company manager and convicted last
month. She is serving 18 months term in the enterprise, having no connection
with journalism, now. Opposition says it was politically motivated trial.
11. Spokeswoman for the Ministry of education, science and culture, Nurbubu
Ashimbayeva, told our correspondent in Bishkek today that 43 new Kyrgyz
students will begin to study in the Moscow universities and institutes this
year. Special commission from Moscow had choosed them in Bishkek from 150
candidates.
KYRGYZ NEWS - 5 JULY 1997
1. People's Assembly of the Kyrgyz Parliament ended its session in Bishkek
today.
The Assembly approved on 5 July a law on application of the Law on amnesty,
passed
in both Houses of Kyrgyz Parliament last month. According to the draft, all
people, accused of insulting, libeling somebody and convicted, would be
released. Also, some categories of convicted sick people should be released.
The law will go in effect after signing by the President.
2. Yuri Maksimov, a Lawyer of Zamira Sydykova, chief editor of the independent
Res Publica weekly, told our correspondent in Bishkek today that it is not
clear yet, when the Supreme Court would consider Sudukova's appeal. According
to Maksimov, everybody in the Supreme Court is waiting for the Law on amnesty
now.
Sydykova was accused of libeling state company manager and sentenced to 18
months of serving in colony last month. Opposition considers the trial was
politically motivated.
Human Right committe of Kyrgyzstan announced in Bishkek on 4 July that
Sydykova is oppressed by colony authorities in Bishkek. She is forsed to live
in hostel without facilities, where vagrants usually live. According to
Committee, more that 200 convicted people are registered in the hostel but
all of them, with exeption of Sydykova, had been allowed to live at home.
Commitee says Sydykova's health is worsening.
Also on 4 July, Committee announced that Aleksandr Alyanchikov, the other
independent journalist, convicted togeteher with Sydykova and sentenced to 18
months suspended imprisonment, wants to receive asylum abroad.
3. Yrysbek Omurzakov, another independent journalist, accused of libeling
state authorities, told our correspondent on 4 July that a new lawsuit had
been organized against him. According to Omurzakov, police major Rashid
Budanyan wants to bring an action against him, accusing Omurzakov of libeling
him in an article, published on 11 February, 1997. Article, entitled "Judicial
serial made in Bishkek", was devoted to law violations among policemen.
Omurzakov was accused of libeling factory director in an article, published on
14 January, 1997, and arrested on 24 March. Bishkek district court could not
approved his guilty and the trial (which begun on 19 May) was halted on 21 May
for undefinite period. Omurzakov was released only on 11 June (after the
municipal court's decision), being in custody for 79 days. But investigaion on
the case is continuing. Omurzakov was accused on insulting President Askar
Akayev and sentenced to 2 years of suspended imprisonment in 1996.
4. Government press service announced in Bishkek today that Salku Hayashi,
first deputy foreign minister of Japan. will visit Kyrgyzstan on 11 July. He
will meet with Prime minister Apas Joumagulov and Foreign minister Muratbek
Imanaliyev.
5. Foreign ministry press service announced in Bishkek today that a meeting of
the Yssyk-Kul Forum would be held in Kyrgyzstan on 15-19 July. UNESCO is a
sponsor of the meeting and Federico Major, UNESCO General Director; Mikhail
Gorbachev, former president of the USSR; other experts have agreed to come.
Gabriel Garcia Markes is also invited.
Yssyk-Kul Forum was organized by prominent Kyrgyz writer, Tchingiz Aitmatov,
in 1987 and celebrates its 10th anniversary this year. Its meeting have been
held in Kyrgyzstan, Switzerland, Russia. Arthur Miller, James Boldwin, Peter
Ustinov, Yoko Ono, other prominent people took part in its meetings. Aitmatov,
69, is Kyrgyz ambassador to EU, NATO, Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxemburg
and lives in Brussels now.
6. Eileen Malloy, former U.S. ambasador to Kyrgyzstan, left Bishkek for
Washington on 5 July. She worked in Kyrgyzstan from 1993 to 1997. President
Clinton appointed Anne Marie Sigmund as ambassador to Kyrgyzstan last week.
7. Anvar Ibrayev from Kyrgyzstan won world title on kickboxing in Italy this
week. The other Kyrgyz kikcboxer, Shaban Shabdanov, is world champion, too.
Kickboxing, karate, u-shu are popular in Kyrgyzstan very much. Kyrgyz runner,
Irina Bogacheva, won in the Marathon race in Minnesota, the U.S., last week.
KYRGYZ NEWS - 7 JULY 1997
1. About 400 people picketted the building of the Procurator office of the
city in Bishkek today. Picketters gathered at the central square outside of
the government building and then moved to the Ptocurator office on the Frunze
street. Picketters demanded to release Nurlan Alymkulov, leader of the Yntymak
movement, unites young people from countryside, gathered in Bishkek, most of
them jobless and homeless. Participants of the demonstration told our
correspondent in Bishkek today, that Alymkulov was detained in Bishkek on
Saturday, 5 July. They say, 4 other members of the Movement were detained by
the police together with Alymkulov, because they began to organize new
demonstration for Sunday, 6 July.
Police tried to desperse demonstration by forse and there was a fighting.
Alymkulov appeared at the square, accompanying by policemen. He told
demonstrators that they had promised him to release him later today and asked
demonstrators to break out. Gathered people began to desperse at about 13:00,
local time, but police detained several participants. Members of the
demonstration, Jainagul Asankulova and Jypar Bojokoyeva, told our
correspondent they saw police detained Tursunbek Akunov, chairmand of the
Human Rights Movement of Kyrgyzstan, and Sagynbek Mombekov, a popular singer,
when they went from the central square. Also, they say a woman wanted to
protect Akunov and Mombekov, but was beaten by police. She had left on the
street for about 20 minutes and then was hosptalized. About 10 people were
detained today.
Yntymak movement held 3 demonstrations in Bishkek last month and today's
picket was the 4th since 2 June.. Prime minister Apas Joumagulov received
their repersentatives on 5 June and promised to resolve their problems. Vice
prime minister, Mira Jangaracheva, has held several meetings with city
administration and members of the Movement after the last demonstration on 30
June. Demonstrators protesting policy of the city administration, promising to
resolve the problems of homeless people in Bishkek but doing next to nothing
on it. They state that city asministration is sabotaging the PM's decisions.
2. 10 people died in South Kyrgyzstan on 5 July. Bus with sportsmen and their
supporters plunged into a ditch near the Chyrchyk pass, on the 71 km of the
highway between Osh-city and Tajik town on Khorog. 9 of 10 died people were
players of the soccer team from the town of Tepe-Kurgan, Aravan district, Osh
region. The other died man was Abdygany Rajapov, referee from the town of
Kara-Suu, Osh region. 12 people have been hospitalized in Alay district. The
bus directed to Alai on 5 July.
3. President ppress secretary, Kanybek Imanaliyev, announced in Bishkek today
that Russia, China, Pakistan and Iran had supported the President Askar
Akayev's idea on holding an international conference on Afghanistan in
Bishkek. Also, Ahmad Shah Masood, defense minister of the last Afghan
government, supported the idea. According to Imanaliyev, the conference might
be held in Bishkek this fall.
4. Imanaliyev annonced in Bishkek today that President Akayev had received
letters from Emomali Rakhmonov, Tajik president, and Said Abdullo Nuri, leader
of the Tajik united opposition. They praised the activity of Kyrgyz president
on reaching agreement between Tajik government and opposition. Also, Rakhmonov
and Nuri asked Kyrgyz president to help to implement the conditions of the
military protocol of the Peace agreement. 300-strong Kyrgyz peacekeeping
batallion is situated in Tajikistan.
5. President press service announced in Bishkek today that Turkish president
Suleiman Demirel will visit Kyrgyzstan on 16-17 July. He will meet with
President Akayev.
Demirel will take part in the congress of the Issyk-Kul Forum, to be held in
Kyrgyzstan on 15-19 July. Founder of the Forum is prominent Kyrgyz writer
Tchingiz Aitmatov and the Forum has held its congresses in Kyrgyzstan, Russia,
Switzerland since 1986. MIkhail Gorbachev, Federico Major, Gabriel Garsia
Markes, Mstislav Rostropovich, other prominent people have been invited to the
congress.
6. Foreign ministry official told our correspondent in Bishkek today that it
is not clear yet who will represent Kyrgyzstan at the NATO sammit in Madrid.
Kyrgyzstan was invited to take part in the meeting of the Euro-Athlantic
council of cooperation, to be held in Madrid on 9 July. President Akayev
departs to the U.S. on 8 July, his visit will last till 15 July. Akayev will
be in New-York on 9-10 July and in Washington on 11-15 July.
7. Asaba weekly wrote on 4 July that President Akayev will meet with George
Soros in New York and will ask him to replace chairwoman of the Soros
Foundation-Kyrgyzstan, professor Chinara Jakypova. President press secretary,
Imanaliyev, announced in Bishkek today, that it was deliberately false
information. However, according to Imanaliev, President Akayev will meet with
Soros during his visit to the U.S. and will decorate him with Kyrgyz state
award.
Governmental Kyrgyz media held an incredible campaign against Soros
Foundation-Kyrgyzstan last April and Minister of education, science & culture,
Askar Kakeev, was involved. Governemt papers accused the Foundation of
supporting opposition. George Soros sent a letter to president Akayev late in
April, saying "I hope that these accusations have not been initiated by any
official governmental bodies" and "I must resist any attemt by the authorities
to try to select the leadership of the Foundation".
8. Prime minister Apas Joumagulov visited Naryn region on 5-6 July, government
press service announced in Bishkek today. He visited Ak-Talaa and Jumgal
districts. There was an earthquake in Ak-Talaa district early this year and a
new school for 900 pupils has been constructed in the village of Kosh-Dobo.
Government gave 5 million som (about $30,000) for it.
9. President administration official, Kamila Kenenbayeva, told our
correspondent in Bishkek today that President Akayev had signed a special
Ardager program on helping aged people in the country. The 1997 was announced
in Kyrgyzstan as the Year of the aged people. According to Kenenbayeva, there
are 1,139 people in Kyrgyzstan elder than 100; 10,459 people elder than 90;
32,258 people elder than 80.
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NEWS
25 thousand tourists visit Antalya to play golf.
It was reported that last year 25 thousand foreign tourists came to Antalya
to play golf.
In a statement, Saleem Haji, General Director of the National Golf Club,
said that especially German, Swedish and Japanese tourists preferred the
developing golf tourism in Antalya.
Haji who described "Antalya as a most suitable place for golf", added: "It
is evident that our Golf courses are in a more modern state when compared
to those in European countries. Moreover, when Turkish hospitality is added
to this beauty, then you will find the answer to 'why Antalya?'.
25 thousand tourists came to Antalya only to play golf in 1996. We have
golf courses with 18 holes for international professional golfers and with
9 holes for amateurs. International level golf matches are played on the
Antalya golf courses. Over 28 thousand golfers will come to Antalya again
this year."
Saleem Haji, further noting that tourists visited Antalya from especially
Germany, Sweden, Japan and Korea, added: "Golf matches will be organized in
Antalya for professional golfers. 90 professional golfers over 50 years of
age will play golf between 5-10 May, and 120 professional players (Women's
Europe-Turkey golf championship) will be organized between 21-28 September.
The most famous European players will share in these matches."
Living Standard in Tatarstan.
"Pravda" (June 26th, 1997) published a report prepared by the Sociological
Research Center in Kazan. According to the report, 15.8% of Tatarstan's
population have incomes below the minimum living wage (355.000 roubles).
However, the share of the population living below the poverty level would
be closer to 75%, if the minimum living wage were calculated on the basis
of scientifically established norms of consumption. Such a norm can be
achieved only if the monthly per capita wage is higher than or equalls 1
mln. 600 roubles. The share of the population with the average income, if
calculated this way, is only 10%, while the share of the population with
highest incomes is between 3 and 5 %.
While the above figures might or might not reflect the true situation in
Tatarstan (because the Sociological Research Center is known for being
opposed to Tatarstan's drive for independence and is perceived as being
hostile to the local government), the following statistics are more likely
to be accurate:
There are 15 thousand cars at the disposal of Tatarstan's government
officials. 770 bln. roubles are spent each year to maintain them, according
to Tatarstan Parliament's deputy Fandas Safiullin. Mr. Safiullin has
recently suggested that part of this money be used to pay salaries to
teachers, doctors and other government employees who are in danger of
losing their jobs.
Thousands of people are expected to lose their jobs because the recently
proposed increase in the minimal wage can not be achieved without some
spending cuts. The minimum wage in Tatarstan is going to be raised to
350.000 roubles a month, which is higher than that of any other region in
Russia. Tatarstan's official statistics currently count only 38.000 people
as unemployed.
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Turkish Press Review
FIFTH ANNIVERSARY OF BSEC CELEBRATED
A ceremony was held at the Presidential Palace yesterday on the
occasion of the fifth anniversary of the foundation of the Black Sea
Economic Cooperation (BSEC). Delivering a speech at the ceremony,
President Suleyman Demirel said that the BSEC has proven that it is well
on the way to being a successful economic cooperation. Demirel noted that
the bank of the organization, which will develop along with the
initiatives of the entrepreneurs operating in the member countries, will
begin to function within one month's time. Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz
stated that they were determined to further develop the BSEC with the
contributions of other countries. /Cumhuriyet/
TURKEY IS INSISTENT ON PEACE IN AEGEAN
Turkey has said that it will unilaterally implement
confidence-building measures in the Aegean. However, Greece noted that
this was against international law, its sovereignty rights and its
international responsibilities and rejected the Turkish proposal.
Meanwhile, a statement made by the Turkish Foreign Ministry said: "This
is an unjust evaluation. Turkey once again calls upon Greece to respect
international law and abide by proposals prepared by the UN
Secretary-General to reduce the tension". /Hurriyet/
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Financial Times (UK) 5 July 1997
US military: Central Asian exercise planned
By Charles Clover in Almaty
US Marine Corps General John J. Sheehan, supreme allied commander of the
Atlantic, arrived in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, yesterday for a meeting today of
the defence ministers of Kazakstan, Uzbekistan, and Kyrgyzstan. The
four are to discuss preparations for joint military manoeuvres in the
region in September.
The manoeuvres are to be peacekeeping exercises of the multinational
Central Asia Battalion. They are to take place in Chernayevka, Kazakstan
and Chirchik, Uzbekistan. They will include about 500 US troops from the
elite 82nd airborne unit, along with soldiers from the three central Asian
states as well as Russia, Turkey, Denmark, and some other countries of the
Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS).
According to a US government official, the exercises are in the spirit of
Partnership for Peace, a 27-nation peacekeeping organisation whose creation
coincided with the policy of Nato enlargement announced in
1994.
"They have in mind something like the Baltic peacekeeping force,"
according to a US government official. "The manoeuvres are designed to
breed a familiarity with Nato and to tie these armed forces into the new
Nato idea of peacekeeping."
The Uzbek foreign ministry said the discussions "are not within the
framework of Nato, but rather of a bilateral nature."
Mr Sheehan is also likely to discuss bilateral relations with Uzbekistan,
whose foreign minister, Mr Abdulaziz Komilov, agreed with US State
Department officials to set up a joint commission to oversee bilateral
relations between the two states.
The defence ministers' meeting follows a month in which Kazakstan has
taken some unusually provocative steps against Russia, unilaterally
lowering tariffs on vehicles and furniture in contravention of a customs
union agreement with Russia, Belarus, and Kyrgyzstan. Under the customs
union arrangement, the four countries had agreed to impose a common tariff
on goods coming in from outside the CIS. By unilaterally lowering tariffs,
Kazakstan has increased the competitive edge of western goods over Russian
ones.
Last week, Russia protested against a joint US-Kazak scientific mission
which would gather data on a Soviet nuclear test site in the Kazak province
of Semipalatinsk.
Then last week Kazak President Nursultan Nazarbayev made unusually
aggressive statements about Russia in a broadcast on Kazak television, days
after a meeting with US Vice President Al Gore.
"There are many ill wishers. They have drawn up different programmes, if
not to bring back the Soviet Union, then to bring Kazakstan back under
Russia's wing.
"Today's [Russian] policy [towards Kazakstan] is okay. . . but what if
tomorrow, some radical comes to power in Russia and says that he will
restore the Soviet Union?" Mr Nazarbayev went on to say that Kazaks should
be ready to "preserve their country's independence and integrity".
Nevertheless, Kazakstan will be participating in the September manoeuvres
alongside Russia.
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Actors From Kazan Harassed by Police in Moscow
Actors from the Tatar Youth Theater on their way to evening rehersals in one
of Moscow's theaters were arrested and harassed by the Moscow police,
according to the newspaper "Moskovsky Komsomolets" (June 24, 1997).
The young actors are interns studying at the studio of one of Russia's most
famous actors -- Oleg Tabakov. The 4 actors arrested by the police were
detained only for a few hours but the rehearsal had to be cancelled and the
festive mood of the young interns was destroyed.
The actors were taken to the 14th police precinct and barred from making
phone calls to prove their identities. The artistic director of the Tatar
Youth Theater, Farid Khabibullin, told "Moskovsky Komsomolets" that it wasn't
the first time that Tatar actors were arrested in Moscow. "It happened 4
times before", said Mr. Khabibullin.
"They wouldn't even allow us to make calls to the Tabakov Theater",
complained the Youth Theater's leading actress, Alsu Khamitova.
After vigorous protests, the actors were finally released without any apology
or explanation. The only reason given by the police for their obviously
outrageous action was that the actors spoke a language other than Russian
and, therefore, seemed "suspicious".
Incidents like this one have not been unusual in Moscow since the city
authorities started a crackdown on people from the Transcaucasian republics,
who are habitually blamed (or, one should say, scapegoated) for many of
Moscow's ills such as the rising crime rate and traffic violations.
As Tatars, we hardly expect to be mistaken for dark-skinned natives of
Transcaucasian republics. However, this incident reminds us that violating
the human rights of any group endangers us all. SabirzyanB
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REGIONAL PROFILE: REPUBLIC OF TYVA
President: Sherig-ool Oorzhak
In March 1997, Sherig-ool Oorzhak was reelected for a second term as
republican president. He swept over 70% of the vote in the first round,
while the closest of the other six contestants received only 10% of the
vote. Oorzhak ran under the banner of the pro-governmental Our Home Is
Russia movement and during his first term carried out the privatization of
small companies and backed the transformation of state collective farms
into small, private farms. Nevertheless, he is often described as a
"leftist" since 75% of the regional budget goes for social programs.
During both races, Oorzhak won the support of the rural areas of the
republic and the ethnic Russian population, which makes up about a third of
the constituency.
Before being elected republican president for the first time in March
1992, Oorzhak had 20 years of experience in agricultural management and
party work. He was elected to the Russian Federation Congress of People's
Deputies in 1990 and to the Federation Council in 1993. He was also a
member of Tyvan republican parliament and served as the head of the
republican government.
Other Local Leaders
Chairman of the Supreme Khural -- Kaadyr-ool Bicheldei, elected in January
1994.
Brief Overview
The Republic of Tyva is located in the middle of Asia, in the southern part
of Eastern Siberia. Most of its land lies in the basin of the Upper
Yenisei River. It shares borders with Krasnoyarsk and Altai krais, Irkutsk
Oblast, the republics of Khakasiya and Buryatiya, and Mongolia. The ethnic
Tyvans make up a majority of the republican population (64%), while the
Russians are the second largest ethnic group in the republic (32%). Until
the 20th century, Tyva used to be a protectorate of neighboring states, and
the first Tyvan nation-state, the People's Republic of Tannu-Tuva, was
created in 1921. In 1944, it merged with the Soviet Union and became an
autonomous oblast within the Russian Federation. By the beginning of the
1950s, the majority of the Tyvans' cattle-breeding homesteads were
collectivized, a step that destroyed the people's traditional nomadic
life-style.
The republic is rich in mineral resources, particularly coal, and rare
and non-ferrous metals. Most of the population and industry is
concentrated in the central area of the republic, which produces about 70%
of the region's GDP. Because of its underdeveloped industry, Tyva has
largely preserved a clean environment. The republic's numerous mineral
water sources, salt lakes, and therapeutic mud baths are attractive tourist
destinations.
Basic Facts
1995 Population (est.): 308,000 (0.21% of Russian total)
Industrial production as percentage of all Russian production (Jan.-Aug.
1995): 0.02%
Agricultural production as percentage of all Russian production (1994):
0.21%
Average personal income index in July 1995: 61 (Russia as a whole = 100)
Price basket index in July 1995: 108 (Russia = 100)
Average back wages owed per person (September 1995): 67,400 rubles (Russian
average = 37,100)
Urban population: 48.1% (Russia overall: 73.0%)
Student population (1993): 92 per 10,000 (Russia overall: 171/10,000);
Pensioner population (1994): 16.81%
Percent of population with higher education (1989 census): 7.9% (Russia
overall: 11.3%)
Percent of population working in (1993): Industry: 11.3% (Russian average:
29.9%); Agriculture: 25.0% (12.8%); Trade: 8.3% (9.1%); Culture: 20.9% (13.
6%); Management: 3.9% (2.3%)
Number of telephones per 100 families (1993): in cities : 35.6 (Russian
average: 41.5); in villages: 10.3 (17.2)
According to a 1995 survey by Bank Austria, the krai is ranked 87th among
Russia's 89 regions in terms of investment climate.
<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>
Ford Dealers in Central Asia
in Kazakstan
Alatau Motors
22 60 Komsomola Street
Almaty 480073 Kazakhstan
Telephone: (7) 3272-653719
Fax: (7) 3272-653710
in Turkmenistan
Burc Group
Erevanskaya Street 93
Ashgabad 744008
Turkmenistan
Telephone: (7) 3632-511515
Fax: (7) 3632-511516
from the Ford Site
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Site Announcements
1.) *Books from Central Asia and Russia* mail order book shop in Germany
http://www.s-direktnet.de/homepages/krieger.buch/English.htm
krieger.buch@t-online.de
2.) Chuvash Republic - Presidential Administration Server
http://www.cap.ru
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Yanki Pursun ---------------------------------------------------------
http://www.rz.uni-frankfurt.de/~puersuen
fyp@usa.net puersuen@stud.uni-frankfurt.de
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