Mountain
initiatives
in Kyrgyzstan

A statement by Prime Minister Kurmanbek Bakiev

Kyrgyzstan was one of the first countries of the world that came forward with the initiative for proclaiming 2002 as the International Year of Mountains (IYM). The initiative of our President, Askar Akaev, to proclaim the IYM was supported by the United Nations General Asembly. We hope that the International Year of Mountains will foster the development of international, regional and national strategies for preserving and conserving the natural environment of mountains, on the one hand; and on the other hand, may foster social and economic programmes for development in mountain regions and ensuring the environment and rational use of natural resources in mountain regions.

We have enacted national programmes for the successful conduct of the Year. There have been regional and national initiatives for highland and lowland regions; a national centre has been established, and an institute for mountains which has made it possible to create a solid information base, not only for existing mountain problems but also for structures that could help resolve these problems. These structures will have a tangible effect on the life of mountain regions. The Asian Mountain Charter is being considered by Central Asian countries for approval. The Asian Development Bank has developed a national strategy and programme of action for the sustainable development of mountain regions in Kyrgyzstan, which focuses on economic and environmental factors of mountain regions and all mountain-related problems. A plan of action has also been elaborated which includes not only sectoral concrete projects but also detailed information on the structures and experts who can help resolve mountain problems.

We hope that the idea at the root of the initiative for proclaiming the International Year of Mountains will have constructive and consolidated support on the part of the international community which can take the form of activating investment policies for countries that are located in mountain regions. We hope that the proclamation of the IYM and the events that will commemorate it will contribute to cooperation between Kyrgyzstan and the international community for the sustainable development of mountains, mountain regions and the planet as a whole.

Source: Extracted from the presentation of Kurmanbek Bakiev, Prime Minister of Kyrgyzstan, at the launch of the International Year of Mountains in New York, 11 December 2001.