Ambassador Avazbek I. Abdurazakov, “Kyrgyzstan Will Be Back to Normal Soon”.
The COVID-19 pandemic has created a vast challenge for many big countries all across the world, and Kyrgyzstan is no exception. To learn more of how the Kyrgyz Government is fighting COVID-19 and how it has affected Tehran-Bishkek ties, we held an interview with the Ambassador of Kyrgyzstan to Tehran, which you may read below.
AVA Diplomatic’s exclusive interview with His Excellency Avazbek I. Abdurazakov, Ambassador of the Kyrgyz Republic to the Islamic Republic of Iran
Upon the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic in Kyrgyzstan, the Health Minister of your country said at a press conference that the first three cases confirmed were related to pilgrims who had returned from Saudi Arabia. So far, has been an external factor for this pandemic in Kyrgyzstan determined?
External sources of contamination could have been in various countries. In fact, the first cases of COVID-19 infection were identified on March 18, 2020 among three pilgrims when they got back from their “Umrah” pilgrimage. But later, new cases in Kyrgyzstan were with travelers who had returned from other countries as well.
So far, how many COVID-19 infections and deaths have been among Kyrgyz citizens?
Up to this day, the total number of cases have been 2 055 in a population of 6.5 million, and 1 485 of these cases have already recovered. There are a number of 548 active cases, 5 in critical conditions, and we unfortunately have lost 24 our compatriots. Thanks God, the current general status of this outbreak in Kyrgyzstan is relatively stable and under control. As to access the very updated stats, I think you do already check it up on the following link:
How do you assess the approach of the Kyrgyz Government to face COVID-19 in comparison to other countries in the region?
The Government of the Kyrgyz Republic has managed to do whatever necessary to prevent this outbreak just in time.
In early February, the National Headquarters to fight the pandemic was formed and on March 1, 2020, quarantine and restrictions were applied to the arrival of travelers from contaminated countries.
On March 22, 2020, Kyrgyzstan placed temporary restrictions on big cultural events, social and family gatherings and declared state of emergency; local and international flights were suspended and trips between cities and provinces were banned; outer borders were closed and in the cities with highest rates of infection, a state of emergency as well as curfew were introduced.
These timely actions by the National anti-COVID-19 Headquarters got a hold of the explosive outbreak of this disease.
At the moment, everything is relatively stable, but with the return of our citizens from other countries, the infection rate soared a bit, though not considerably. Life will be back on its natural course in Kyrgyzstan soon, thanks God. The National Headquarters, however, still continues to apply precise supervision to keep the epidemiologic situation under control while taking necessary measures.
Kyrgyz lawyers gave free consultations to people during the quarantine. Are there any other voluntary activities aimed at providing aid and assistance to the people of Kyrgyzstan?
Fortunately, I saw that shortly after the introduction of emergency situation in Kyrgyzstan, the problems and difficulties caused by the pandemic, kind of brought the people together, united them and mobilized each and every individual to support the weak strata of our population who needed clothes, food, medicine and personal protection equipment (PPE).
The Ministry of Finance of our country along with the Ministry of Public Health have opened two special-purposed accounts for the National Headquarters to raise funds aimed at fighting the epidemic. Using this opportunity, everyone who had enough affordability including government employees, MPs, businessmen and entrepreneurs, private sponsors, ordinary citizens as well as Kyrgyz citizens residing outside the country remitted their voluntary contributions to those accounts of the National Headquarters in favor of those in need.
Following the outbreak of COVID-19, we witnessed that the flights between the two countries were suspended. Can you come up with a specific timeframe for the resumption of flights between the two countries?
I hope this epidemic goes away soon. Internal flights have resumed between Bishkek and Osh since June, 1 in Kyrgyzstan. It is expected that Kyrgyzstan will open its aerial space for international flights on June 22nd.
Iran has recently sent its medical humanitarian shipment to Kyrgyzstan. What items did it include?
The humanitarian aid of the Government of the I.R.Iran that has been sent on 18th May by our sworn brotherly province, Khorasan Razavi, included 4 tons of medicines, personal protection equipments (PPE, i.e. masks, gloves, goggles, protective suits, etc.) and disinfectants which will be used by the Ministry of Public Health Kyrgyzstan to fight COVID-19 in our country including Osh province which is the sworn brother province to Khorasan Razavi province, as well.
We are aware that the Government of the friendly country, the Islamic Republic of Iran, that is having a hard times herself, has sent this humanitarian aid to Kyrgyzstan in spite of numerous hardships caused by COVID-19 to your country, and this noble action showed once again the greatness of your people and of your country, as the famous proverb says: “The friends in need, are friends indeed”.
Our people and the Government of our country are deeply appreciative to the brotherly people and venerable Government of the I.R.Iran for their humanitarian support of Kyrgyzstan, and the people of Kyrgyzstan will never forget it.
On June 9th, 2020, a telephone conversation between the Presidents of the Kyrgyz Republic and the Islamic Republic of Iran took place. The two heads of state have discussed important issues and outlooks for the development of bilateral cooperation, including joint measures aimed at countering the pandemic, and also outlined priority steps aimed at enhancing bilateral cooperation and upturning level of trade and economic exchanges between the two countries.
In terms of international cooperation to fight the outbreak of the pandemic and thwart its consequences in the region, the Kyrgyz Republic has full interaction and collaboration with the countries of the region and the world.
It may be noted that virtual meeting of the heads of Eurasian Economic Union member-states, the Turkic-Speaking Council, the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), CIS, telephone conversations between the foreign ministers of the Kyrgyz Republic and the Islamic Republic of Iran, between the co-chairs of the Kyrgyz-Iran Joint Inter-Governmental Commission (JIGC), Presidents of the Chambers of Commerce of the ECO member-countries took place, and a number of agreements aimed at facilitating the return of citizens of our countries to their homelands have been reached.
Just like the Islamic Republic of Iran did, other countries including Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, China, Russia and Japan have also sent their humanitarian aid to our country.
Teams of COVID-19 experts from such countries as China, Poland and Hungary have also visited Kyrgyzstan in order to exchange and share experience, knowledge and provide consultations and training for Kyrgyz medics.
What measures have the two countries’ officials considered to control the outbreak of COVID-19?
The National anti-COVID-19 headquarters of the Kyrgyz Republic and the I.R.Iran as well as public health ministries of both countries do exchange information, experiences and data as well as cooperate with each other on the issues of countering this ominous disease.
How has this epidemic affected the activities of the Embassy of Kyrgyzstan in Iran?
Just like all foreign diplomatic missions and offices of international organizations in Iran, we have followed the recommendations of the Foreign Ministry and National anti-Corona Headquarters of the I.R. of Iran, and applied the recommended individual lockout and social distancing regime at the Embassy. We had to temporarily suspend receiving visitors and issuing Kyrgyz visas, shortened the working hours of the Embassy and allowed our staff to work from home.
Presently, we are on a gradual trend to get back to normal while noting the epidemic status in Tehran, though we have already resumed issuing visas for truck-drivers and introduced the Embassy’s working hours from 10 AM to 4 PM.
How are the economic and political relations between the two countries?
After the beginning of the pandemic, unfortunately, and following the closure of international ground and aerial borders, the trade volumes between the two countries declined significantly since aerial, rail and road transportations have temporarily stopped.
But we believe that all these difficulties are only temporary ones so that we can resume trade and economic exchanges between the two countries as well as with other countries of the region soon.
And with regard to the political ties between Kyrgyzstan and Iran, they are still on the highest and excellent level presently like they have been before, in the past.
Can you foretell a certain timeframe for the restoration of economic ties between Iran and Kyrgyzstan?
I really hope that, God willing, in a couple of months, we will be able to talk about the full resumption of the economic ties between our two countries as something that would have certainly taken place by then. I hope that with the resumption of aerial and ground transportation between the two countries as well as with other countries of the region, this will become a matter of fact in near future.
Interview by Mohammadreza Nazari