On the eve of his state visit to Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov gave an interview to Kazinform MIA.
The head of state answered questions regarding Kyrgyz-Kazakh bilateral relations, Central Asian integration, the development of investment interaction, cooperation within the framework of integration associations, etc.
Here is the full text of the interview:
Free translation
- Urmattuu President! First of all, I would like to express my deep gratitude to you for the invitation and interview. As recently as January, early presidential elections were held in Kyrgyzstan. You won! We sincerely congratulate you on your victory!
- Thank!
- So, the first question: what were these elections like for you? What do you remember about the election campaign? Did you think six months ago that you would govern Kyrgyzstan?
- Good question. Not six months ago, to tell the truth, as a child, my grandfather and grandmother always watched the CPSU congresses. At that time, my grandmother was a member of the Supreme Soviet. Every time the Communist Party of the Soviet Union passed, she said that she was going to Moscow for the congress, and left. I was then in 4th or 5th grade, and I watched TV with interest with my grandfather and grandmother. These were the times of Brezhnev. When he spoke, I said that "I will be like Brezhnev." Such was my secret dream. The fate turned out so that 16 years ago, in 2005, I was elected a member of parliament. Since then I have been fighting corruption. You know, our corruption has gained strength in 30 years. Therefore, this time too, a change of power took place in our country. This was due to the fact that officials were mired in corruption. The next question is that we have widened the gap between the rich and the poor
You probably know that we have the Kumtor deposit, where gold and silver are mined. As early as 8 years ago, I spoke about corruption in this field, I said that the Kyrgyz state does not benefit from a single tyiyn from this field. I saw with my own eyes the devastation of this deposit, sounded the alarm, said that this should not continue. Despite this, I decided to follow through and in 2012 was arrested for the first time. He spent 9 months. Later, the court acquitted me - I was released as an honest man. But the persecution continued and I went abroad. Was in Kazakhstan, Russia, Europe. In 2017 he returned to participate in the presidential elections. Upon my return, I was detained at the Kazakh-Kyrgyz border and again imprisoned. I spent 3.5 years of my life in prison. As you know, there were unrest last October. With the help and support of the population, I was released and came to power. I was not happy about that. You asked if I thought six months ago that they would be president? I thought. I had a goal at one time to become president. But I didn’t know how and when it would happen. First of all, I am glad that I managed to avoid bloodshed in the country, to walk this path peacefully, without breaking a single glass, not allowing looting, not confronting the poor with the rich. I am glad not that I became president, but that I have kept order. without breaking a single glass, not allowing looting, not confronting the poor with the rich. I am glad not that I became president, but that I have kept order. without breaking a single glass, not allowing looting, not confronting the poor with the rich. I am glad not that I became president, but that I have kept order.
- You have been elected president. You recently made a trip to the Russian Federation. Now you are going to Kazakhstan on a state visit. Why did you choose these two states and with what proposals are you going to Kazakhstan?
- After being elected president, Kassym-Zhomart Kemelevich was one of the first to invite me, and I promised to come. This is one of the reasons why, among the states of Central Asia, I am making my first visit to Kazakhstan. Secondly, we, Kazakhs and Kyrgyz, are brotherly, neighboring countries. We have many common interests that unite us. Therefore, I am going to a brotherly, kindred country. Why was the first trip to Russia? With the Russian side, we had protocols and agreements prepared for signing as soon as possible. On March 2-3, I intend to pay a state visit to Kazakhstan. A trip to Uzbekistan is also planned. In addition, there are plans to visit China and Turkey. We must make great efforts to achieve a high level of relations with all states. This is our policy.
- Over the past 25 years, many documents and agreements have been signed between us. Many issues have been resolved. Will you maintain continuity in relations with Kazakhstan?
- Yes, we are brothers. If you put a Kazakh and a Kyrgyz next to each other, other people will not be able to distinguish between them. If you and me are put next to you and ask a stranger where is Kazakh and where is Kyrgyz - he will not be able to answer, to tell the difference. Therefore, in negotiations with Kazakhstan, when signing any agreements, even if questions arise, there should be no disputes and conflicts between us. We should not build our plans based on momentary interests. During the visit to Kazakhstan, a number of agreements and arrangements will be signed. But, between us there should not be a single unsolvable issue.
- You said that many issues have been resolved between Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan. Are there any unresolved issues?
- There are no unsolved questions. If there are any minor issues, we will resolve them through negotiations.
- Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan are members of a number of international organizations. Among them are two large organizations: the Eurasian Economic Union and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization. On what issues in these organizations do the positions of Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan coincide?
- There are many questions in the EAEU, SCO, CSTO, CIS. And the citizens of Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan have common interests in resolving these issues. In 90 percent of the issues, the interests of the two countries are similar. We always protect our common interests. We have common principles. We act in concert in the EAEU and the SCO. This work will continue in the future.
- After gaining independence by our countries, experts and political scientists talk a lot about Central Asian integration. What are your views on this issue?
- They started talking about Central Asian integration since 2000. As far as I know, Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan will soon hold a conference on integration in Central Asia. We would like to propose to hold the conference in Bishkek. The states of Central Asia should always maintain integration ties with each other. If we, in our region, are not united, but disunited, this can lead to negative consequences.
- Since 2005, about one billion investments have come from Kazakhstan to Kyrgyzstan - in the mining and communication industries. Our entrepreneurs work in Kyrgyzstan. There are economic relations between the two countries. What is your policy regarding Kazakhstani investments?
- When I came to power, I took all investors under my protection. We have chosen the presidential form of government. In this regard, a new Constitution will be adopted. Then new laws will be developed, a new parliament will be elected. Currently, the government has an Agency for attracting investors and protecting their interests. After the adoption of the new Basic Law of the country, we will raise the status of this agency and turn it into a national agency directly subordinate to the President. If any authorities put pressure on the investor, the agency will protect his interests. This will be in my personal competence. Investors will enter into agreements with the state for 20-30 years. Even if the government changes, there should be guarantees for investors for further work. The state should not deviate from its principles. Currently, Kazakh investors are working in the territory of Kyrgyzstan, in particular in Talas, in the Ala-Buka gorge. It is no secret that earlier there were cases of harassment of investors, seizure of their property, initiation of various cases. In order to prevent such negative phenomena from now on, I intend to create a National Agency.
- Let's touch on the topic of transboundary rivers - what are your views on this issue? What are the ways you can solve this problem?
- Today there is a shortage of water in the world. We also have similar problems. It should be noted that if the situation in our Toktogul reservoir develops in the same way as it is now, then it will come to a state fraught with disaster. Therefore, we are considering the issue of importing electricity from Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan. The Republic of Kazakhstan has notified that it is ready to export 0.9-1 billion kW of electricity to our country. We, in turn, are negotiating with Uzbekistan. If we do not provide supplies from outside, then we will have to provide our country with electricity on our own, but as a result, no one will have enough water during the growing season. As a result, the water level in the Toktogul reservoir will decrease. Therefore, we must import energy from Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan. This will be acceptable to all of us. We hope that, as a result,
- Does Kyrgyzstan have its own cross-border logistics policy?
- Kyrgyzstan is located exactly in the middle of the Great Silk Road connecting the West and the East. When it comes to cross-border links, I hope that we will become a region that connects different areas. In this direction, we have a national project - the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway. It will take place in the south of the country. It will be a railway linking the countries of Central Asia with each other, and the Asian region with Europe. If we build this road, it will mean the further development of the Great Silk Road. This is the external priority of our state.
- What will you talk about with the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev during your visit on March 2? Can you tell us about this, at least in general terms?
- This is my first visit to Kazakhstan as President, I am making a state visit at an official invitation to strengthen fraternal ties. Everything will be resolved through negotiations and the conclusion of agreements on various issues, and there are many such issues.
- We read Kyrgyz mass media, visit Kyrgyz sites and Facebook pages. You are called a strict leader. What is the reason for the formation of such an image?
- Perhaps from the outside I look stern, but at heart I am a gentle person. We now have the law in all areas. I tell everyone - ministers, the prime minister, the security forces - to act only within the framework of the law. I demand that both current and former leaders be punished for corruption and crimes. I say: "If you arrest someone on libel, then they themselves will be brought to justice." Therefore, now the law has begun to work for us. I understand why you have the impression that I am a strict leader. Prime ministers, ministers, leaders and other senior officials have been arrested. I understand that this is exactly what you mean. For 30 years, corruption has taken deep roots in our country. About 300 families in Kyrgyzstan got rich, the rest became poorer. As a result, we had a third revolution. This is the first reason. The second reason is dishonest, unfair elections. Therefore, we held fair, fair elections. Local elections will be held soon. A referendum is planned, which we will also conduct honestly. Parliamentary elections will be held in autumn. And in all these processes, the law should be the same for everyone - from the president to a farmer with a ketman in his hands. We are now establishing legality and justice. Of course, this cannot be done in one year. It takes 2-3 years to correct the situation. We are now establishing legality and justice. Of course, this cannot be done in one year. It takes 2-3 years to correct the situation. We are now establishing legality and justice. Of course, this cannot be done in one year. It takes 2-3 years to correct the situation.
- What will be the foreign policy of Kyrgyzstan now?
- First of all, we will continue fraternal ties with neighboring states. The Kyrgyz and Kazakhs have a good saying: "A close neighbor is better than a distant relative." We must, first of all, develop good relations with our neighbors. We are allies with other states, for example, with Russia, and it is necessary to maintain close ties as strategic partners. We will establish equal relations with the countries of Europe, America, with all states, taking into account the interests of both parties.
- I well understand that you do not have a lot of free time. You are just starting to work as a president. And yet, how does the President of Kyrgyzstan spend his free time?
- Right, now I have no free time. I tell the press secretary and the adviser that they do not pity me, they do not leave free time. But, whenever possible, I visit the pool. In the summer I play football and tennis. But there is really little free time.
- What are your wishes to the people of Kazakhstan?
- I wish the people of Kazakhstan unity, kindness, peace! Of course, we must admit that today Kazakhstan is ahead of us for many years. I wish your people to move even further, because if everything goes well with you, then everything will be fine in Kyrgyzstan. We are fraternal peoples. We never left each other. History proves it. When it was difficult for the Kazakhs, the Kyrgyz helped, when it was difficult for the Kyrgyz, the Kazakhs provided assistance. If we turn to history, then there is an example - during the famine in the 30s, many Kazakhs moved to us. Then we shared with the Kazakhs the last cup of talkan, saved the Kazakhs from hunger. In my home area there are about 10 auls where Kazakhs live. They have been living here for over 100 years, and we have already become akin to them. We have always helped each other in difficult times. Therefore, I wish the Kazakh brothers good, prosperity, peace and tranquility!
- Peace and prosperity to the fraternal countries! Urmattuu President choÒ£ rakhmat, Sizge!
- And thank you very much!
