[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 27 (Tuesday, February 13, 2007)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E338-E339]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    WELCOME TO SPEAKER OF THE KYRGYZ PARLIAMENT, MR. MARAT SULTANOV

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. CHRIS CANNON

                                of utah

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, February 13, 2007

  Mr. CANNON. Madam Speaker, I rise to welcome to the United States and 
to my State of Utah the Speaker of the Kyrgyz Parliament, Mr. Marat 
Sultanov. Mr. Sultanov was hosted by leaders in Utah on February 3-5.
  Kyrgyzstan is a small nation in the heart of Central Asia, landlocked 
and inhabited primarily by a Muslim population with a predominantly 
nomadic culture and heritage. Kyrgyzstan has demonstrated itself a 
friend and ally of the United States, especially in the fight against 
terrorism. The air base at the Manas International Airport in Bishkek 
is still the only military base in Central Asia supporting coalition 
forces operations against the Taliban and Al-Qaeda forces in 
Afghanistan.
  For some time the Kyrgyz Republic has been considered an advanced 
nation in terms of political and economic transformation. After the 
change of regime in 2005 and the election of a new president, 
Kyrgyzstan still faces many challenges. One great challenge for this 
nation stems from its proximity to Afghanistan, and the threat of 
increasing drug trafficking, weapons smuggling and radical militancy. 
Kyrgyzstan needs our support to progress with reforms for a better 
future for its citizens.
  During his visit to the United States, and Utah in particular, 
Speaker Sultanov talked about those matters. His background and 
political career show his own contributions to the promotion of market-
based economic reforms. Before his election to the Parliament of 
Kyrgyzstan, he was head of the National Bank and the Minister of 
Finances.
  Speaker Sultanov's visit to Utah came at the invitation of Utah 
Senate President John Valentine, as a result of the Speaker's special 
interest in building strong, direct ties between the legislators of 
Kyrgyzstan and the legislature of Utah, as well as with the U.S. 
Congress.
  While in Utah, Speaker Sultanov lectured at Utah Valley State College 
on the subject of ``The Kyrgyz Republic-Utah-Rocky Mountain States: A 
new level of cooperation through a sustainable Mountain Partnership.'' 
The Speaker will emphasize for the first time a new tack in the 
bilateral agenda, related to cooperation in the sphere of sustainable 
mountain development, which will be very important for both Kyrgyzstan 
and Utah.
  The idea of sustainable development is directed toward fighting 
poverty, unemployment and inequality by looking for the exchange and 
implementation of best practices among the people who live in similar 
environments with similar challenges. Many of these challenges in 
mountain nations come because of remoteness, lack of resources and 
infrastructure.
  The Rocky Mountain States and Utah are actively involved in this 
cooperative process. In November of last year several institutions from 
this region, including Vista 360 (Jackson, Wyoming), Utah Valley State 
College and the Utah-Russia Institute became members of the UN-related 
Mountain Partnership, which coordinates efforts on sustainable mountain 
development on a global level.
  Another major project which Utah Valley State College is pursuing, 
together with its partners from the National Center of Development of 
Mountain Regions of Kyrgyzstan, is the international conference ``Women 
of the Mountains.'' A number of prominent women from around the world 
and from the Rocky Mountain region will take part in the Conference. 
The goal of the Conference is to unite leading scholars and 
institutions from the Rocky Mountain States in a regional approach 
toward sustainable mountain development. This conference will be free 
and open to the public on the UVSC Orem campus from March 8th-March 
10th.
  The conference will give scholars from the region an opportunity to 
talk to each other and identify positive examples of sustainable 
development in the Rocky Mountains and then to further these 
experiences both in this region and with interested partners around the 
world. UVSC intends that the Conference be held on an annual basis.
  Representatives of Kyrgyzstan and other developing mountain nations 
have emphasized how important it is for them to have specific support 
from the mountain communities of

[[Page E339]]

the United States. The historical development of the mountainous states 
in North America, and Utah in particular, are of particular interest to 
them. The new involvement and interest of the Rocky Mountain States and 
Utah in sustainable mountain development could help many of the 
transitioning economies to develop and implement more successful, pro-
market policies.
  This is a rewarding and noble goal, especially now, when we are 
witnessing growing challenges to stability and development around the 
world from the growth of poverty and unemployment, two primary sources 
feeding terrorism and militancy.

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