On June 10-12, 2019 Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador of the Kyrgyz Republic in the Republic of Turkey K.Omuraliev visited Van province, where live ethnic Kyrgyz people.

In the framework of the visit, there was held the meeting with Governor of the province of Van, Mr. Mehmet Emin Bilmez. During this meeting, parties discussed issues of assistance to ethnic Kyrgyz living in the village Uluu Pamir of Erdjish district of Van province.

During a meeting with Governor Van Mr. Mehmet Emin Bilmez, there was reached an agreement  on assisting in the allocation of land for the construction of an additional 200 residential buildings due to population growth; solution of a problem of additional land for agricultural needs; the resumption of the annual Kyrgyz Culture Festival, which has not been held in the past 5 years; consideration of the opening of the Lyceum with full secondary education instead of the existing school with incomplete secondary education, as well as further support of the activities of the ethnical complex “Ata Zhurt”.

Ambassador K.Omuraliev visited the village of Uluu Pamir and got acquainted on the spot with the living conditions and problems that ethnic Kyrgyz people face in everyday life. At a meeting of villagers, K. Omuraliev conveyed greetings to compatriots from Kyrgyzstan, spoke about the situation in Kyrgyzstan and answered questions from residents.

At the meeting, K.Omuraliev informed on reached agreements with the Governor of the province of Van Mehmet Emin Bilmez regarding the support of ethnic Kyrgyz people. In addition, in response for the request on the resumption of the direction of teachers of Kyrgyz language, literature, and music from Kyrgyzstan, K. Omuraliev assured that the Embassy will make efforts to resolve this issue.

Ambassador K.Omuraliev also visited the Ata Zhurt ethnocomplex, founded by ethnic Kyrgyz Kenan Aitach and located on the shores of Lake Van on 20 hectares of land near Erdjish town. The ethnocomplex popularizes the culture, traditions, and customs of the Kyrgyz. On the territory of the ethnocomplex there are yurts, horse riding, and archery sites, national handicraft products, etc.

For reference: On the initiative of Rakhmankul Khan in 1978, part of the Pamir Kyrgyz emigrated from Afghanistan after the April revolution. At the beginning, the Kyrgyz moved to Pakistan, but, accustomed to the harsh climate of the Wakhan corridor, they could not settle down in the hot new climatic conditions. Not having the opportunity to move to Alaska, the Pamir Kyrgyz were accepted by Turkey. In 1983, the Turkish Government allocated land in the Erdjish region of Van province in eastern Turkey, where was founded the village Uluu Pamir.

Currently, the village Uluu Pamir lives about three thousand ethnic Kyrgyz, who have preserved national traditions and the Kyrgyz language. A small part of the "Van" Kyrgyz lives in Istanbul and in recent years has moved to the province of Ankara (district. Chubuk) and Yozgat in central Turkey (approximately a thousand person).