The Institute for Public Policy held a round table on the topic: "Kyrgyz foreign policy priorities in 2007". A number of experts on foreign policy, politics and diplomats took part at the round table (list).  

The moderator, the President of the Institute for Public Policy Muratbek Imanaliev said in his welcoming speech that in 2007, the country's leadership will undergo several important tests of foreign policy. Firstly, is the SCO summit organization which will be held in Bishkek in 2007. Secondly, this year authorities should normalize Kyrgyz-American relations, which have significantly deteriorated in recent years, and direct relations to a more constructive course. Thirdly, Kyrgyz leadership should work out consistent policy toward Central Asian countries, taking into account current domestic policy developments the respective countries.  

If we proceed from the notion that foreign policy is a reflection of domestic policy- an instrument which serves the state's interests- then, according to Ambassador Ishenbai Abdurazakov, the main problem of foreign policy is a lack of domestic policy guidelines, with clearly defined national interests. "Foreign policy right now is felt out, so to speak, and we see international relations through the eyes of other countries, not through our own," he said.   

According to all participants, the main tendency in the last year's foreign policy was that Kyrgyzstan put aside a multi vector policy. Experts stated that nowadays it is wrong to think that while worsening relations with one country Kyrgyzstan might improve relations with another.

One of the main priorities of foreign policy should be an improvement of relations with the USA, or at least, preventing them from deteriorating. As participants said, it is very important that the leadership clearly realizes and evaluates what the contemporary West is exactly. According to the estimation of various financial and political think-tanks, the USA will remain a global force for a long time, and Kyrgyzstan should adequately evaluate it and conduct policy which corresponds to its own long-term interests. Moreover, improvement of relations with the USA will result in qualitative growth in relations with Russia, participants said.

They stressed that the issue of relations with international financial institutions will be also principal in 2007. Refusal to enter the HIPC program was strongly motivated by domestic policy interests, but after refusal some higher officials stated that the country should reconsider and narrow down the relations with international financial institutions. According to the participants, the Foreign Ministry will have to respond to reaction to these statements as financial institutions are represented by donor countries, while the state budget has a huge deficit without any visible alternative sources for economic growth.

Another priority direction in activity of Foreign Affaires Ministry should be development of a consistent position and policy toward neighboring countries, taking into account internal political developments in these countries. Political modernization in Kazakhstan, the ambiguous situation regarding Uzbek President Islam Karimov's term expiry, the upcoming congress of the Communist Party in China - all these factors should be thoroughly analyzed from the point of view of Kyrgyzstan's interests.

In conclusion, the participants stressed that for effective foreign policy making, the country leadership needs first of all to work out a clear state policy and determine national interests.