Almazbek Atambayev, the deputy head of interim government of Kyrgyzstan for economic affairs, addressed to the world press from the Institute of Strategic Thinking (SDE). Atambayev, who was the Prime Minister and the Secretary of State for Industry in Kyrgyzstan in the past, was a candidate against the deposed Prime Minister Kurmanbek Bakiyev for the elections for presidency last year.

After he met the President Abdullah Gül, Almazbek Atambayev came for the press meeting, which was held at the conference hall of SDE, on Thursday, April 15. Prof. Dr. Yasin Aktay, the Chairman of SDE, made the opening speech of the press meeting. Mr. Aktay said that the Turkish-Kyrgyz relations started long before in the past and there are strong relations between two nations. The meeting was chaired by the writer Alper Tan, a member of SDE Board. Mr. Tan said, “We know very well that you speak Turkish very well. Therefore, we want you to make your speech in Turkish.” and gave the floor to Mr. Atambayev.   

Mr. Atambayev, who also met Mehmet Ali Şahin, the President of the Assembly, and Ali Babacan, the Deputy Prime Minister, said:

“Five years ago, the same happened in October, 2005 in Kyrgyzstan and the people revolted. The President of that time Mr.Akayev, fled to Bishkek. We chose Mr. Bakiyev and told him to be the President. He promised us many things: he would be pure; there would be no corruption; and there would be democracy. However, he did exactly the opposite in five years. In two years, journalists were killed and opponents were arrested. On April 6, in the evening the opponents were arrested and I was also among them. We said, “We are sent to the prison; yet the people revolt on the streets and what will happen?” The people were on the streets in the morning in order to protect their own leaders. The men with rifles, most of whom were not Kyrgyz citizens, protected Mr. Bakiyev.

Mr. Bakiyev stole the future and property of the Kyrgyz nation. For instance, at the beginning of this year a company, which is three times as big as your Uludağ Electricity Corporation, was sold extremely cheaply. They got half of the customs income. It was the same everywhere. Special forces were created just in order to scare opponents. The journalists were killed. Mr. Bakiyev’s son, who was the member of the KGB, was the broker in this corruption period. All of the stock certificates and securities were combined. And a man, who was a grafter and was wanted in Italy, was given responsibility for the management of it. There was theft anywhere we look at. Eventually we came together and taught that if it went in this way, our country would disappear.  

HE BECAME EVIL IN FIVE YEARS

The man who had given us promises turned into a devil in five years. Eventually the number of the people killed has been 85. Maybe it will be 100. On April 7, people walked to the Presidential Palace; yet they had nothing to do. They were met with rifles. I was in jail at that time. They just stood there and looked at the Presidential Palace of Bakiyev. Mr. Bakiyev told his men to shoot “the killers” so that they would escape. However, honor and freedom are very important for the Kyrgyz, thus they did not escape.

THE PRESIDENT COMES AND BECOMES A KHAN

There should not be a presidency system; for a president comes and becomes a khan after 5 years. There will be a parliamentary system like the ones in Turkey and Germany. They will work for the people and become their servants. If there is a pure will, we will be the richest country.

After his statement, Question-Answer session started:

Question: Which countries did you go for support? What did you ask for and what did you get?

“I did not go to other countries. I have no time. Yesterday the Head of the Interim Government of Kyrgyzstan, Roza Otunbayave, asked me whether it would be a problem if I did not go to Turkey, and I said it would. There are some people that want to destabilize Kyrgyzstan. I suppose all of the countries have positive views about us. The representatives of the European Union come and understand us. We want to make Kyrgyzstan a democratic country. We want the human rights rule in the country.

On April 1, we had problems with Russia on customs regulations. The Bakiyevs also broke the agreement with them. There were corrupt practices. The state borders were closed on April,1. I went to Russia. We solved the problems and understood each other.

Turkey is a brotherly country and we have the same ancestors. Kyrgyzstan is the land of our ancestors and Turkey is the homeland. It is a disgrace if we do not come here.

Everything changes in Kyrgyzstan. We do not want to kill Mr. Bakiyev and does not want his blood. He fled to Osh. His own townsmen chased and stoned him. May God give him a long life; yet the sooner he dies, the better it will be for him. It is very awful to kill a man for a seat. We have a plan for his arrest and if we want, we can do it just in one hour. What did Mr. Bakiyev do? In his town, he is together with the killers in his garden; yet there are civilians around. In case we make an operation, even if one civilian dies, it will be troublesome. There should not be blood any more. We are not killers. Mr. Bakiyev had already been punished by God. He is not aware of the fact now; yet his children and grandchildren will change their surname soon. There cannot be a punishment more severe than this. He has to explain everything to the people.

There will be a new constitution. We had formed a group and we started to work on a new constitution as the opposing party. We believe that it will be a good constitution. I also said this before. There will be a parliamentary system. We want a system like the one in Germany and Turkey.

Question: What was talked during your meeting with the President Gül? Did you talk about the financial aid?

In general, we talked about other things like financial aid to the children whose family have died and to the people. We are content with the Turkish people. I have been invited and I am here upon the invitation of the Dear President. I have come here; for Turkey is our brotherly country. I have no demand. A brotherly country understands everything without [need for] any demand. We are not beggars.

Question: Do you have a fear of a civil war?

Mr. Bakiyev said, “The south will be a separate country.”Mr. Bakiyev was chased and stoned in Osh. There will be no civil war.

The national and international press showed a great interest to the press meeting. The meeting was broadcasted live by a number of TV channels. Click here for the news broadcasted by the national and international press…