The establishment and development of the

Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Kyrgyzstan

                                         

 

          The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Kyrgyzstan, which was established in 1944, marks this year its 75th anniversary.

          In 1944, Kyrgyzstan, along with the other 15 republics, was a member of the Soviet Union. According to the Constitution of the Soviet Union, they were sovereign socialist republics with their own parliament and government. But at the same time, by the separate decree foreign policy and international relations of all 15 Soviet republics were delegated to the All-Union Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

        On February 1944, the law "on providing authority to the Union’s republics in foreign relations and establishing their Foreign Ministries" was adopted. This law was allowing the Soviet Union’s republics with a purpose of strengthening international ties and cooperation to establish direct relations with foreign governments, sign agreements with them, exchange diplomatic and consular representatives. However, until Kyrgyzstan gained independence these rights were not implemented in practice.

       On March 17, 1944 the Supreme Council of the Kyrgyz SSR adopted the decision on establishing the People’s Commissariat of Foreign Affairs of the Kyrgyz SSR. This was the turning moment in the history of Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Kyrgyzstan. Mr. Kazy Dikambaev (1944-1949) was appointed as the first Minister of Foreign Affairs of Kyrgyzstan. Within its 75 years history there were twenty one Ministers of Foreign Affairs of Kyrgyzstan. Mr. Chingiz Aidarbekov, the current 22^nd Minister of Foreign Affairs of Kyrgyzstan, has been in this position since 2018.

        In 1944, the staff of Foreign Ministry of Kyrgyzstan had only four employees, and its central administrative body had only three divisions: Political, Protocol, and General. Such a structure of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs with the number of staff not exceeding ten employees existed until 1991.

        The modern Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Kyrgyzstan in its current form was established in 1991 after the disintegration of the Soviet Union and establishment of independent Kyrgyzstan on August 31, 1991.  At present, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Kyrgyzstan has big central administration with more than 30 diplomatic missions abroad.

       The emergence of Kyrgyzstan as a democratic legal state and a real actor on the world stage took place amid difficult fundamental political and economic transformations in the world, but over a short historical period, the country's foreign policy was able to go through not only the stage of formation, but also successfully integrated into international diplomatic life. The integration of Kyrgyzstan into the world community was, first of all, started with the entry into the United Nations in 1992 and establishing close cooperation with the Organization and its Specialized Agencies.

         For Kyrgyzstan, joining the UN opened up new prospects for ensuring national interests and enhancing its role in the international arena. The UN adopted more than 10 resolutions of the General Assembly at the request and initiative of Kyrgyzstan. Among them: on celebration of the millennium of the Kyrgyz national epos Manas; on announcement of 2002 as the International Year of the Mountains; on sustainable development in mountain regions; on assisting poor mountain countries to overcome obstacles in the socioeconomic and environmental fields; on sustainable mountain development; on the celebration of the Year of Kyrgyz Statehood; on World Social Justice Day; on the role of the international community in averting the radiation threat in Central Asia, as well as series of resolutions on the Central Asian Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone.

        Over the years of independence, Kyrgyzstan has become a member of many major international organizations. At present, the country is a member of 123 various international organizations and associations. The establishment of the Permanent Mission of the Kyrgyz Republic to the UN Office and other international organizations in Geneva in 1996 was an important event in the development of international relations of the country. Regular meetings of the country's leaders and members of the government in the framework of international forums in Geneva have become an important direction of the country's political interaction with the international community.

        After gaining independence, Kyrgyzstan established and strengthened diplomatic relations with 155 countries of the world. Until now, thousands of treaties and agreements on friendship and cooperation with these countries have been signed.

        The recently adopted foreign policy concept determines that Kyrgyzstan is a

peaceful, democratic country, striving to build a rule of law and protect human rights. In its foreign policy, the country adheres to the principles of the inviolability

of its state borders, strengthening of diverse ties with countries of the world, and prevention of conflicts.

         In general, sovereign Kyrgyzstan in its foreign policy continues advocating for nuclear-free Central and Internal Asia, peaceful coexistence and solution of all problems through political negotiations, as well as for mutually beneficial socio-economic and cultural integration.