Kyrgyzstan: what changes with the names change?

There is news in Kyrgyzstan: the leader of party Aalam suggested to change the official name of the country and now to call the republic as “Kyrgyzjer” that in the translation from Kirghiz means “the Kirghiz earth”. Such ideas sound not for the first time – there were many variants: Country of heavenly mountains. The United States of Kyrgyzstan …

And there are things which are accustomed to repeat: once again in parliament they undertook to argue about the Russian language. Deputy Ismail Isakov rebuked the representatives the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Internal Affairs that the invited official answered a question in the Russian at the meeting of Committee of Defence and Safety …

At our request the situation was commented by Alexander Ivanov – the chairman of the Russian United Union of Compatriots (ROSS), the vice-chairman of Coordination Council of the Russian compatriots in Kyrgyzstan and the chairman of Civil anti-fascist and anti-nationalist committee (GAAK) of the republic.

- To change the name is such search of the solution of all problems existing in the republic. It is simpler to get rid of everything on the unsuccessful name, on the wrong arrangement of a place of the capital and that monuments stand not so right. It is possible to tell that already the tradition developed … But actually, of course, it is no more than the PR move of the politicians interested in that somebody speaks about them.

- Does the argument that supposedly in the world confuse Kyrgyzstan to Kurdistan because of similar sounding in English take place to be?

- It was often spoken about in the first years of independence. Many foreigners asked again, when told them from what country you are. But after all actually there is no republic Kurdistan on the world map! And the names were offered the most different from the United States of Kyrgyzstan to Kyrgyzjer – everyone tried to show uniqueness of the country at his level.

- Which party caused a stir this time?

- The party Aalam acted with an initiative to change the name of the country. In the translation its name means “Universe”. This party was formed in 2007 on the eve of parliamentary elections. It was created as the party of non-parties, but as a result took one of the last places. Its leader Arslanbek Maliyev didn't show himself. Therefore, his present statement appeared unexpected for many people.

- And what is the reaction to this initiative?

- Public reaction is on the level of the public and political scientists today. All, of course, laugh at this idea and don't perceive it seriously. Though, in my opinion, some hurrah - patriots can quite support it.

Great debate about the republic name was right after the sovereignty finding. Came to the conclusion that it is not necessary to call the country how it was made by our neighbors. For example: Republic of Kazakhstan, Republic of Uzbekistan or Republic of Tajikistan. Called the country as the Kirghiz Republic – on the Kirghiz it sounds as Kyrgyz Republicasy. So Azerbaijan made the same (the Azerbaijani Republic), and, by the way, Turkey too. And the name of Kyrgyzstan is also in the constitution – it is given in brackets at once behind that name about which I spoke.

- It is still spoken and written about Kyrgyzstan in Russia. How do you treat it?

- Really, there is a question. The matter is that there is no combination “кyr” in the Russian. On August 17, 1995 there was an order of the Presidential Administration of the Russian Federation No. 1495 where the list of names of the former Soviet republics was approved. In that order Kyrgyzstan is under the name of “Kirghiz Republic” (full form) and “Kyrgyzstan” (short form). That name is used in all documents of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation.

However, the Russians living in the republic already got used to the official name of the country. As to the Kirghiz, many of them take offense, when in the Russian mass media speak Kirghizia, instead of Kyrgyzstan. There was even a note of protest to one of the Russian TV channels about it.

- After all, can the name of the country be changed as a result?

- It is necessary to remember one thing – in the republic the decision is made that the Constitution of the country won't change till 2020. So, the name will remain the present. But in case the country won't endure the next revolution, then, of course, everything can be.

- They speak today not only about names, but also about the Russian language. This subject is in focus of attention. From time to time the deputies Jogorku Kenesh blame the officials that those answer in the Russian, instead of the Kirghiz language …

- Discussion about the Russian language is still conducted, but it is now cunning from a big tribune. To political elite understood the senselessness of this discussion, but the conversations go on the local level. Especially it concerns the uneducated segments of the population, and in geographical sense - first of all the southern part of the country. Here for some reason they consider that the status of official Russian language prevents the development of the Kirghiz language as the state one.

- In what way?

- The status of language is defined in the constitution. But if to deprive the Russian of this status, it will be impossible to carry on negotiations, to act, train. It will leave the office-work sphere too, will be narrowed in the field of education, mass media. According to this perverted logic the Kirghiz language will have a new impulse of the development as a result of infringement of the Russian language.

- What is it fraught?

- First of all, it is fraught with big outflow of the population that can put the republic in the most difficult situation. Not only the Russians will leave in that case, but also many Kirghiz. It is abundantly clear! Migratory streams will be simply huge, and it becomes a real crash.

Why the Slavic population of the republic didn't master the Kirghiz language? They would be glad to make it, but it is simply impossible if to use the existing techniques. Textbooks aren’t good too. Here what it is necessary to pay attention!

- Do the authorities understand it?

- Yes! There is such understanding at the level of the president and the government. We constantly put these questions, and they convince us that the status of the Russian won't undergo the changes! President Almazbek Atambayev told recently that such conversations are enough – if to raise the status of the Kirghiz language, so it is necessary to create the real mechanisms for this purpose, but not to undermine the atmosphere of an international consent in the republic.