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The Role of Russian Increasing

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  • The Role of Russian Increasing

    Times of Central Asia , Kyrgyzstan
    March 12 2004

    The Role of Russian Increasing

    BISHKEK (TCA). Between March 4 and 6 Bishkek hosted the international
    congress, "Russian language in the community of the CIS peoples."
    Organized at the initiative of Kyrgyz President Askar Akayev, the
    forum gathered more than 400 specialists in Russian philology,
    scholars, educators and public figures from Armenia, Azerbaijan,
    Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Lithuania, Russia, Tajikistan, and
    Ukraine. For the first time, a forum of this kind took place in a
    Central Asian country. In the past, similar congresses were held in
    Moscow, Warsaw, Berlin, and Prague.

    "Each language is unique and thirsts for recognition," Kyrgyz writer
    Chingiz Aitmatov said in his welcome speech to the congress
    participants. "But, following our traditions and developing our
    language, we must never forget about the people and language that
    have helped us to come out of medieval darkness. For this reason we
    will save, protect, use, and cultivate Russian language as one of the
    greatest values of the Kyrgyz nation."

    The development of the Russian language is not only an economic
    priority, but also an important political task for Kyrgyzstan,
    President Askar Akayev said at the opening ceremony for the congress.
    In his words, the Russian language has never lost its position in
    Kyrgyzstan and is protected by the Kyrgyz Constitution as an official
    language. The President said that Kyrgyzstan lives in the information
    space of the Russian language. Russian is the language of about 100
    newspapers and several large television and radio channels in
    Kyrgyzstan.

    "I wish to destroy the myths concerning the passing of the law on the
    state language of the Kyrgyz Republic," the head of state said. "The
    role of Russian language is increasing in all spheres of cooperation
    in the entire Eurasian space, and refusal from its use would be a
    mistake and irreplaceable loss. We will never choose this way."

    Russian is the means of communication and preservation of close
    spiritual relationships. Unfortunately, many people today have to
    protect their natural right for the native language. This was stated
    in the address of Alexy II, Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia, to
    the congress participants. The Patriarch thanked the Kyrgyz
    government for the fact that the country "supports Russian language
    at the highest level" and that Russian "has been given the status of
    the official language while Kyrgyz is the state language."

    The Russian education minister announced an almost two-fold increase
    of budget-paid quotas for students from the CIS countries wishing to
    study in Russian high schools this year. For Kyrgyzstan the quota is
    300, which is six times higher than before.

    In 2004 the Russian budget has allocated US $6 million for the
    program titled, "The support of integration processes in the sphere
    of education and Russian language in the CIS countries." This amount
    significantly exceeds budget allocations in previous years.

    The congress participants were unanimous in their opinions that
    integration in the post-Soviet domain has become a reality.
    Therefore, there is the increasing need for Russian as the
    international communication language, which is regaining its role as
    the linking, cementing component for the integration process.
    "Russian language is one of our strategic, pivotal properties,"
    Chingiz Aitmatov said.
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