Brief history Administrative and territorial division Health protection Ecological situation

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T he Kyrgyz Republic (Kyrgyzstan) is a continental country, located in the north-east of Central Asia. In the north Kyrgyzstan borders on Kazakhstan, in the south-east and east on China. In the south-west where the Tien-Shan joins the Pamiro-Altai mountain shaft, it borders on Tadjikistan, and in the west on Uzbekistan.

The Tien-Shan ridge predominates in Kyrgyzstan. It divides the country into two zones: the northern part, including the Talas, Chui and Issyk-Kul oblasts and Bishkek, and the southern part, including the Djalal-Abad, Naryn and Osh oblasts. The area of Kyrgyzstan is 199,9 thousand km2 4,2% of this area is occupied by forests; 4,4% - by water; 53,5% - by cultivated lands. The country is extremely mountainous, 94% of its territory is located 1000m above the sea level, 40% of which is over 3000 m. above the sea level with large glaciers and eternal snow.

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Average altitude of the Kyrgyz territory is 2750 m. above the sea level. The highest point is Peak Pobeda (7439 m), the lowest is 350 m. above sea level (in the south-west of the republic). The area occupied by the republic is very seismic, with frequent earthquakes and sill floods.

Brief history

Burana tower

The Kyrgyz country was already mentioned in the Chinese history in 201 BC but descriptions of its people are poor and sometimes contradictory. The geographical origin of the Kyrgyz is the subject of scientific arguments. Some scientists suppose that the Kyrgyz came from the banks of the lake Kyrgyz-Nur in Mongolia, while the others believe that they first lived in the region of the Boro-Khoro range in the eastern part of the Tien-Shan Mountains in China. It is considered that ancient Kyrgyz state was founded at the same time as the Turkish language empire. Thus, the Kyrgyz were among the first nations who created the conception of the state. Their early feudal state was founded in 4-5 AD, i.e. at the time when the Kyrgyz were living in the river basin of the Enisey to the north-east of the present Kyrgyz Republic. During the period of greatest power, the empire of Kyrgyz Kaganat included several different nations. This empire, however, didn't exist long. By the 10th century the Kyrgyz nation had returned to the Enisei-river basin. In 840 AD, instead of the Great Uigurs' state the Kyrgyz Kaganat was founded. Its borders stretched from the Baikal Lake to the Irtysh River and from the present city Krasnoyarsk to the Great Chinese Wall.

In the 13th century the state broke up into a number of feudal-tribe territories, which became an easy plunder for Chingyzkhan's troops in 1207. In 1293 the state of Enisei Kyrgyzs was completely destroyed. The inhabited territories of different Kyrgyz tribes stretched in the 15th-16th centuries from western Mongolia to the eastern Turkestan. However the regions of the Central Tien-Shan, the Chui valley and the south-eastern part of Fergana region, i.e. the territory closely coinciding with the present borders of the Kyrgyz Republic, formed the heart of Kyrgyz nation's territory and it is considered to be the Motherland of the present Kyrgyz nation

By the 16th century the Kyrgyz nation had been fully formed in its present aspect, within the borders of the present Kyrgyzstan. Since the middle of the 19th century the Kyrgyz tribes were included in the Russian Empire. After the October revolution a new stage of Kyrgyz nation's economic and cultural life began. In post-revolutionary Russia the territory of the present Kyrgyz Republic was included into the structure of the Turkestan Autonomous Republic. In 1924 after the demarcation of the Central Asian republics, the Kara-Kyrgyz Autonomous Oblast, administratively being a part of the Russian Federation, was formed. In 1924 it was reorganised into the Kyrgyz Autonomous Republic in the structure of the USSR. According to the new USSR Constitution in 1936 the oblast became the Kyrgyz Soviet Socialist Republic with the status legally equal to the status of the other union republics, the Russian Federative Republic among them. In addition to the radical changes, the main functions of the state power have changed. Nowadays they are responsible for the development of the country as well as for the fulfilment of the nation's welfare policy.

After the USSR disintegration the independent Kyrgyz Republic became the legal successor of Soviet Kyrgystan's territory and received international recognition. New leadership consists of the President, Prime Minister and Jogorku Kenesh (parliament). In 1994 by national referendum Askar Akaev was elected as the first President of the Kyrgyz Republic and the Constitution was adopted. In 1995 the election of a new two- chamber Jogorku Kenesh was held. The country's leadership refused socialism and established a democratic state.

Territory division and population

Administrative-territorial division of Kyrgyzstan Oblast Area (thous.km.) Population(thous. pers.) Chui 20.3 770.8 Issyk-Kul 43.1 413.1 Tрlas 11.4 199.9 +sh 46.2 1456.8 Jalal-Abad 33.7 869.3 Naryn 45.2 249.1 Batken 17 382.4

The capital of Kyrgyzstan is Bishkek, with a population of 762,3 thousand people on January 1, 1999. Kyrgyzstan is divided into 7 administrative oblasts and 41 administrative regions. There are 20 towns, 29 settlements, and 422 ailkeneshes in its structure. On January 1, 1998 the total number of settlements all over the republic was 471 units.

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4851 thousand people live on the territory of the republic at the present, according to the data of 01.01.1999. Of these 1678,6 thousand people live in the towns, while 3144.3 thousand live in the countryside.

The south of the republic is most richly populated; 2313.7 thousand people, or 50.5% of the whole population of the republic, lives here. Chu and Talas valleys are on the second place on a population level; their population is 970.4 thousand people, or 21.2% of the population of the republic. 692.4 thousand people, or 15.1% of the population of the republic live in Issyk-Kul and Narin regions. 605.2 thousand people live in Bishkek, the capital of Kyrgyzstan.

In comparison with 1990, the share of city dwellers dropped by 4.1% and while the rural population has increased. This tendency has been observed for the last years. In comparison with 1990, the urban population has been reduced by 79.2 thousand people, while the rural population increased by 318.8 thousand people.

Ratio between a number of men and women is considered to be favourable. Men's share for the period from 1990 to 1997 increased from 48.9% to 49.4%, and as for women it decreased from 51.1% to 50.6%. If in 1990, 1,046 women were per 1,000 men, in 1997 only 1,025 women per 1,000 men. Among age groups of 0-9, 10-19, 20-29 female sex prevails.

The population density is growing due to population increase. In 1990 there were 21.8 persons per km2 but since 1997 the density of population has increased up to 23.0 people. The highest density is registered in Bishkek, the capital of Kyrgyzstan, which was 7623 people per km2.

National structure of the population

Of the ethnic structure of the population in Kyrgyzstan the majority belongs to the Kyrgyz - 64.9%, then come the Russians, Uzbeks, Ukrainians and Tatars (12.5, 13.8, 1.0 and 0.9% respectively).

National structure changed considerably due to migration of the population. Share of the Kyrgyz increased during the period from 1990 to 1999 from 53% to 64.9%, the Uzbeks - from 13% to 13.8%, the Uigurs - from 0.9% to 1.0%, the Tajiks - from 0.8% to 0.9%. The number of Kazakhs increased by 0.9%. It should be noted that for the last years (1996-1999) the tendency for increasing was still ongoing.

The reduction of the population number of many nationalities due to migration process has taken place. For instance the number of Russians decreased from 21.2% to 12.5%, Ukrainians from 2.5% to 1.0%, Tatars from 1.6% to 0.9%, Germans from 2% to 0.4%, and Jews from 0.1% to 0.03% .

A quantitative migration departure of the population in 1996 was 10 times less than in 1993 (which was the peak of migration) and 1.6 times less than in 1995. However, it comprised almost 12,000 people. It should be taken into consideration that about 70% of the people leaving were skilled manpower. This factor had a negative effect on the republic economy.

Major indices of natural movement of the population

The demographic situation in the republic is caused by natural movement of the population, characterized by birth- rate, death-rate and natural increase.

Birth rate per 1,000 persons has a decreasing tendency. Average absolute increase of birth- rate for the given period corresponds to 1.04; analogous size for death rate made up 0.06. That is why the lowering of natural increase of the population observed within the period from 1990 to 1997 is mainly determined by decrease of birth rate.

Health protection

Structure of reasons of population death rate

In the structure of reasons of total death rate for many years, death rate from disease of blood circulation system is in the lead, then diseases of respiratory organs, injuries and accidents and malignant neoplasms follow.

The structure of reasons of death-rate of the population in Kyrgyzstan in 1997: Diseases of blood circulation system - 40% Diseases of respiratory organs - 15% Injuries and poisonings - 11% Malignant neoplasms - 8% Infections and parasitic diseases - 5% Others - 15%.

Structure of population morbidity

The analysis of total population morbidity for the last seven years showed a tendency of reduced morbidity among adults, teenagers and children.

A number of newly revealed diseases among adults and teenagers have decreased from 872,668 cases in 1991 to 712,316 in 1997. And among children - from 648,376 in 1991 to 493,597 in 1997 respectively. Intensive index per 100,000 persons made up 31,412 and 24,547 (-21.8%) respectively among adults and teenagers, 38,740 and 28,089 (-25.2%) among children. However, a lowering of indices does not reflect the real situation of morbidity among the population, and is connected with lowering of taking medical advice. In accordance with the United Nations data, 76% of the population in Kyrgyzstan live below the level of poverty. It can be explained by the absence of proper attention to people's health and a general worsening of life conditions. Annually more than 5,000 people fall ill with tuberculosis, about 20,000 people with venereal diseases, about 300,000 with infectious diseases.

Population morbidity with diverse kinds of diseases connected with environment pollution

Throughout the republic the morbidity index of malignant neoplasms tends to lowering ( 94.4 cases per 100,000 persons in 1997 as against 121.6 in 1991), but it doesn't reflect the real situation.

In Kyrgyzstan about 3,000 people die from malignant neoplasms annually. In 1997 it made up 61.6 per 100,000 persons. Diseases of respiratory organs are in the lead in the structure of total morbidity. And they hold second place in the structure of death reasons. For the past few years a number of patients with blood diseases and especially with leucosis has increased twice. More than 1,000 people suffer from acute and chronic forms of leukaemia. Thyroid gland diseases are growing progressively in the infrastructure of endocrine diseases. These diseases hold the first place for territorial expansion and for the number of patients.

A selective examination of children at the age between 7 and 12 showed that endemic growth of thyroid gland is registered in 52% of cases.

Expected duration of population life

Since 1996 as a result of certain decrease of total death-rate, expected duration of life tends to increase. It makes up 66.9 years in 1997 as against 66.0 in 1995.

However, there are considerable differences in the level of male and female life expectancy (62.6 and 71.4 years respectively) in 1997. Maximum life expectancy was observed in the Djalal-Abad region (68.6 years) and minimum life expectancy was observed in the Issyk-Kul region (65.6 years).

Ecological situation

In Kyrgyzstan, the high mountain ecological systems are especially vulnerable to natural and anthropogenic influence. Of a total area of 199.9 thousand km2 no more than 30% are suitable for constant residing, due to climatic condition. Only about 20% belongs to a zone with comfortable and rather comfortable conditions, where an absolute majority of the population lives. Practically, the whole anthropogenic load is on these territories. This circumstance has seriously worsened the ecological state of the republic. In a number of regions the indicators show that the environment is in crisis, with a situation that is becoming irreversible. This unfavourable ecological state is aggravated by economic problems, forcing the population to inefficient use of natural resources (cutting down woods, poaching, extensive use of arable grounds, neglect by melioration and other measures). This results, by a principle of a closed circle, in much greater deterioration of the state of the ecology. At the same time, unique landscapes, clean waters and air have in certain areas been kept almost untouched by anthropogenic activity. This has an economic value along with other benefits, and represents a special good of international importance, the value of which will grow with time.

Structure of management bodies

The decree of the government "On state control statement in the sphere of nature protection and natural resources use" (December, 1992) determined special authorised bodies providing state control in the sphere of environment protection.

They are: State Committee on Environment Protection (Ministry of Environment Protection); Ministry of Internal Affairs; State sanitary and epidemiologic control (Ministry of Health service); State inspection of land use under the government of the republic; State forestry inspection under the government of the republic; State inspection on control for safety works in industry and mining.

Legislative basis of environment protection

Since 1991 Kyrgyzstan started reconstruction of legislation to provide really executive, market-oriented juridical basis for ecology improvement.

Law "On nature protection" adopted by the Supreme Soviet (April, 17, 1991) established juridical basis for nature protection and guaranteed rational use of natural resources. Legislative branch of Jogorku Kenesh of the Kyrgyz Republic considered 2 law drafts in 1998: "On ecological expertise" "On environment protection".

International initiatives and cooperation

The first international agreement in the sphere of environment protection, signed and ratified by the Kyrgyz Republic as a subject of international law, was the agreement on cooperation in the sphere of ecology and environment protection of the CIS (June, 1992, Moscow).

This agreement determined the main principles and cooperation sphere among the CIS countries, created International ecological Council and its executive body -Secretariat (Minsk). The second international agreement, signed and ratified by Kyrgyzstan, was the agreement on joint actions to save the Aral Sea. Permanent executive and instructive body -Executive Committee of International Fund of the Aral Protection was established on the basis of the agreement (March, 20, 1997). In 1995 Kyrgyzstan together with the World Bank worked out the national action plan on environment protection. To realise this plan Kyrgyzstan joined the Basel convention on transboundary transport control of dangerous wastes and their removal in February, 1996.

In 1996 the Asian Bank of Development rendered technical aid to the Ministry of Environment Protection to develop international possibilities of improving assessment procedure of impact on environment in the sum of 550 thousand US dollars. The government of Finland took a decision to allocate 1.5 million DM for the project of ecological and economic development of biosphere "Issyk-Kul". One of the largest donor funds of Kyrgyzstan is the Soros-Kyrgyzstan Foundation, which spent 3 thousand US dollars on ecological training and 1.5 thousand US dollars to introduce a certain ecological organisation to the Internet.

Ecological education

In the republic about 20 secondary schools work with specialised ecological programs. According to standard syllabus ecological issues are studied in the 11th form, 8 hours within the subject "General biology". The quantity of training and methodical literature is not satisfactory, there are no new training syllabuses.

Ecological education at higher institutions is as follows: the subject "Ecology fundamentals" is taught at 6 higher institutions as a general subject; 4 higher institutions prepare ecologist-professionals in two directions: "Ecology and nature use" and "Environment protection". In a number of institutions new specialities "Ecologist-lawyer" and "Ecologist- economist" are introduced. At present about 1200 students are specialising in ecological direction. The teaching staff of these faculties in Bishkek is: 6 professors, 4 assistant professors, 14 senior teachers and 21 teachers. Training for a new profession and refresher courses in ecological education are specialising with the help of different organisations and projects in the republic. The department of UNESCO at Kyrgyz State National University, the Soros- Kyrgyzstan Foundation, TACIS, the K.Adenauer Fund, the Ph. Abert Fund and others conduct this process. But there are not enough textbooks, and laboratory equipment for practical classes does not meet the requirements.

Public non-government ecological organizations

For the last few years, public (civil) ecological organisations, missions of international ecological societies have been established and opened in the republic. In 1997 over 70 associations, ecoclubs, societies, and charity funds were functioning in the republic. The most important of them are: "Diamond" association, "Club of nature lovers", "Doctors for nuclear war prevention" committee, "Mairam" society, Ecological movement of Kyrgyzstan "Aleine", Ecological movement "Tabiyat", Charity fund "Man and nature".

BYEM - Youth Ecological Movement