Visit of President of Kyrgyzstan Askar Akayev to Moscow is over. Here is an exclusive interview with Akayev right after completion of his talks with President Vladimir Putin.

Question: Askar Akayevich, there is the widespread opinion that the wave of velvet revolutions that began in Georgia and Ukraine will sweep over other CIS countries as well and that Kyrgyzstan may become the next target. Are there the necessary prerequisites for revolutionary changes in Kyrgyzstan?

Askar Akayev: There are some prerequisites of course. I wrote a book in the wake of the events in Georgia. Technology of the Revolution of Roses in this country is analyzed in it. Generally speaking, this technology only works in the countries already prepared for democracy. I'm convinced that this technology will not work in Turkmenistan. It may, however, work in Kyrgyzstan where democracy is budding. After all, we have a great deal of critical media outlets in Kyrgyzstan, we do not have censorship. Over 5,000 non-government organizations operate in the country. The US Ambassador and me argue over the matter regularly. He is of the opinion that Kyrgyzstan is an authoritarian country and that from this point of view it does not differ from other Central Asian countries. I disagree with this assumption. Judge for yourself. Had it been an authoritarian rule in Kyrgyzstan, attempts to put into motion some revolutionary technology would have been a waste of time. And yet, there appear to be the plans to organize some sort of "velvet revolution" in Kyrgyzstan. It surely means that we are not an authoritarian regime, that we have democracy. It is not perfect yet, it has to be developed and improved, but it is democracy.

Question: Revolutions in Georgia and Ukraine began when popularity of their presidents (ex-presidents now) was at its all-time low. What about your own rating?

Askar Akayev: First and foremost, we do not have in Kyrgyzstan slogans like what we all heard in Ukraine, "Kuchma - Out!". You will never hear "Akayev - Out!" anywhere in Kyrgyzstan. Moreover, opinion polls conducted by the opposition show that President Akayev's rating is quite high. There were years when I began my campaigns with the rating on the level of 30%. These days, I have 42% of the population behind me. Leaders of the opposition cannot claim similar ratings. Kurmanbek Bakiyev has 6%, Adakhan Mamudarov 3%. I repeat, this opinion poll was conducted by the opposition itself.

By the way, respondents were also asked the following question, "Do you want President Akayev to resign?" 65% answered in the negative. As I see it, the explanation is quite simple. We did a lot within the framework of the impoverishment reduction program in the last several years. Progress in this sphere is particularly noticeable in the southern regions of the country. We actively supported small and medium businesses. The population feels it. Serious foreign money was invested in economy of the southern regions. Population of these regions always voted for the late communist leader Absamat Masaliyev. These days, I have broader support in these regions than anywhere else throughout the country, according to the same opinion poll. It should be noted as well that the Americans prefer dealing with the southern regions and their leaders - Bakiyev, Mamudarov. Finding a woman in the opposition was not easy but the search was eventually successful. They found Roza Otynbayeva, who is the locomotive force of the opposition nowadays.

The youth is another factor. I work with it constantly. I'm regularly criticized that there are so many universities in Kyrgyzstan, but what else could I do? I could not offer young Kyrgyzes jobs. I gave them a chance to study instead. We have 200,000 students in Kyrgyzstan with the overall population of 5 million. In Turkmenistan nearby there are only 20,000 students but the population there is 6 million. Our best students are eventually sent to continue their studies abroad. They number 3,000 nowadays. It does not take a genius to see that students support me. And of course, the capital of the country supports me too. It was different in Georgia and Ukraine where capital cities were in the hands of the opposition.

Question: So, is that what you are going to do: watch export of revolutions impassively? Does it mean that President of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev is correct to criticize you for inability to deal with the opposition firmly?

Askar Akayev: I have always been against repressions and all sorts of strong-arm methods in political life. I prefer a direct dialogue with my opponents. It is because our regime is always ready for a dialogue that we do not have problems in the relations between confessions. It is wrong to regard Kyrgyzstan as a source (or asylum) for Islamic extremism. Hizb-ut-Tahrir, the party viewed as extremist throughout the world, is outlawed in Kyrgyzstan. All other confessions and religious schools are free to promote their ideas. That's what enables us to retain stability.

Whoever is trying to bring "velvet revolutions" to Kyrgyzstan does not understand that Central Asia is different, that attempts to replace regimes in such a manner may easily degenerate into civil wars here. We all remember Tajikistan where a confrontation between the opposition and the regime led to 7 years of a civil war. What I'm saying is that revolutions here, in Central Asia, will not be as painless as they were in Ukraine or Georgia. Those are countries with European culture. Everything there is absolutely different. Kyrgyzes are born nomads. We regard it as an advantage because nomads run a lesser risk to "catch" radical ideas. Unfortunately, the outlawed Hizb-ut-Tahrir prompted by its foreign sponsors did form some cell organizations in Kyrgyzstan. There is the danger nowadays that the radical wing of the opposition is prepared to ally with radical Islamic parties. This threat was particularly clear in the course of the parliamentary campaign. Some leaders of our opposition are not above accepting help - financial aid included - from radical Islamic parties. It makes transformation of a "velvet revolution" into something more radical all the more possible.

Question: Putin promises Kyrgyzstan his help in prevention of revolutionary threats. What form will this help take? Is Bishkek ready to accept this help from Russia?

Askar Akayev: Kyrgyzstan has always promote the policy of friendship with Russia. We agreed to develop bilateral relations in all spheres this year. Of course, Russia's moral support is always welcome. Particularly now, with the parliamentary election coming forth. Kyrgyzstan has always attached considerable importance to rapprochement with Russia and to establishment of as close relations with it as possible. No wonder practically all Russian TV channels are available in Kyrgyzstan and over a dozen Russian newspapers are published. We want an objective opinion of general public in Russia on the processes taking place in Kyrgyzstan. And moral support will do by way of help from Russia.

Question: There is, however, a serious irritant in the relations between Moscow and Bishkek. I'm talking about the NATO AF base in Manas which is an US AF base too all practical purposes. It is common knowledge that the Kremlin would dearly like to see it closed. What effect does it have on the Kyrgyz-Russian relations?

Askar Akayev: First and foremost, when US President Bush asked for the permission to establish a base in Kyrgyzstan for the purposes of the counter-terrorism operation in Afghanistan in 2001, I discussed the matter with presidents of Russia and Kazakhstan Putin and Nazarbayev. Everybody backed the counter-terrorism operation then because it was in everyone's interests. Status of the NATO base in Manas is defined by resolution of the UN Security Council. The base operates pending establishment of stability in Afghanistan. When the mandate of the UN Security Council expires, the same will happen to the presence of the American AF in Kyrgyzstan.

The Russian AF base in Kant is quite enough for regional security. I'm often asked if it is a nuisance to have these two bases so close to each other. No, it is not even though the distance between them is only 30 kilometers. With different tasks and functions, they complement each other. The American base operates within the framework of the counter-terrorism operation in Afghanistan. The Russian base sees to security of the whole Central Asian region. There are no problems between them, not even on the political level.

Question: Who does Kyrgyzstan see as its major strategic ally, Russia or the United States?

Askar Akayev: Russia has always been and will always remain our major political ally and partner. "Russia is given us by the Lord and history," I said it long ago. I always emphasize in my conversations with Bush and in my speeches in Washington that whoever wants proper relations with Kyrgyzstan must accept the fact that Kyrgyzstan has always had close relations with Russia. As a mathematician, however, I suggest "both... and" instead of "either... or". This is what our foreign partners should bear in mind.

Question: A few words about the parliamentary election slated to take place in February. There is something odd about the campaign already. For example, Kyrgyz diplomats are not permitted to run for the parliament. Their stay abroad allegedly interferes with the residential qualification. How come? Abroad or not, these people are serving the state. Do you plan abolition of the residential qualification?

Askar Akayev: There were even some rallies in Bishkek because of it. I'd call it another proof that we have democracy in Kyrgyzstan, that there is freedom of speech, rallies, demonstrations... That one is permitted to express his or her opinion freely. It applies to the parliament too which already tried to correct its own mistake in the matter of the residential qualification. By the way, this law was passed before the previous election. Chairman of the Central Election Commission and me objected then. We were against this provision that sparked this scandal now. I'm convinced, you know, that a diplomat working abroad represents his country. He is abroad on his native country's business... It was leaders of the opposition who feared competition and therefore passed this amendment that puts the parliament out of reach for whoever has not lived in Kyrgyzstan for the last five years. Opposition leaders did so promoting their personal interests. Now that some former ambassadors are in the opposition, these same people are trying to amend the legislation again.

The parliament's latest attempt to amend the law failed. It did not have the quorum that day. Amendments to the law were not passed. Had the parliament acted by the law, I'd have surely signed the new legislation.

Question: Your own children are running for the parliament. Have they sought your advice?

Askar Akayev: Of course. I respect their choice. They are adults now. I want them to find their place in life. My political career will be over one fine day. Well, my children are welcome to try a similar career if that is what they want.

Question: You began this year with a trip to Moscow. What was in the center of the talks this time? Are you satisfied?

Askar Akayev: I certainly am. Among everything else, I met with my friends in Moscow. Physicists, mathematicians... I used to be a scientist once, you know. Meetings like that give me energy.

There was also a meeting with Putin, of course, the central event of my stay in Moscow. As always, we discussed a great deal of problems of importance. President of Russia is expected with an official visit in Bishkek in July, and we want our bilateral relations elevated to a wholly new level. Russia and Kyrgyzstan will begin construction of a power plant on the Naryn River in the near future. Sum total of investments in the project is estimated at $2 billion. It means a new phase of economic development of Kyrgyzstan. This is going to be the first project of this magnitude in its latest history.

Question: What Russian companies will be involved in the project?

Askar Akayev: We believe that the power plant will be built by Russian Aluminium. That's great because we have plans of construction of an aluminium factory in Kyrgyzstan at a later date. Kyrgyzstan has everything necessary - cheap energy and bauxites. Our own power plants will provide energy for the future aluminium factory.

© Translated by Ferghana.Ru