On November 5, 2019, in the city of Naryn, at the School of Professional and Continuing Education of the University of Central Asia, the opening ceremony of the Aarhus Center of the city of Naryn was held.

Prior to the start of the main events, the staff of the OSCE Program Office in Bishkek and the Issyk-Kul Aarhus Center familiarized themselves with the campuses of the University of Central Asia. The guests were greeted by the public relations manager of the University of Central Asia E. Sulaymanova who gave detailed information about the university and arranged a familiarization tour of the campuses. As a result, issues of mutual cooperation, joint work between university students and the Aarhus Center of Naryn were discussed.

Part 2 of the event continued at the School of Professional and Continuing Education of the University of Central Asia with the opening of the office of the Aarhus Center in Naryn.

A round table was held in the conference hall of this school on the topic “Discussion of the implementation of the principles of the Aarhus Convention in the Kyrgyz Republic: opening of the Aarhus Center in Naryn.”

The round table was attended by D. Zhunusova, Head of the Department of Social Monitoring and Development of Naryn Oblast, N. Baidakova, National Coordinator for the Implementation of the Aarhus Convention in the Kyrgyz Republic, B. Kravchenko, Dean of the Graduate School of Development, University of Central Asia, Eduardo Da Ros-Advisor the regional development of the OSCE program office in Bishkek, E. Payziev is the national environmental adviser to the OSCE program office in Bishkek, S. Tursunakunov is the manager of the Issyk-Kul Aarhus Center and university students Central Asia, residents of Naryn.

Welcoming remarks were made by D. Zhunusova, head of the department of social monitoring and development of the Naryn region, she on behalf of the plenipotentiary representative of the Government in the Naryn region E. Alymkulova congratulated everyone on the opening of the Aarhus Center in Naryn. She spoke about the problematic environmental issues of the city of Naryn, with the opening of the center, new opportunities will appear in solving these problems, that the Aarhus Center of the city of Naryn plays a large role in the work between government bodies and the public.

N. Baidakova, National Coordinator for the Implementation of the Aarhus Convention in the Kyrgyz Republic, congratulated on the opening of the Aarhus Center in Naryn. She noted that the State Agency for Environmental Protection and Forestry is the responsible state body for the implementation of the principles of the Aarhus Convention in the Kyrgyz Republic. She called on the new center to work closely with government bodies and members of the public.

Dean of the Higher School of Development of the University of Central Asia B. Kravchenko noted the special place of the Aarhus Centers for Ecology and asked the Aarhus Center of Naryn to pay attention to the problem of the Naryn River.

Eduardo Da Ros, Advisor on Regional Development of the OSCE Program Office in Bishkek, congratulated participants on behalf of the head of the OSCE Program Office in Bishkek, Mr. Pierre von Arks, with the opening of the Aarhus Center in Naryn and wished the Center success.

N. Baidakova, National Coordinator for the Implementation of the Aarhus Convention in the Kyrgyz Republic, made a presentation on the theme “Implementation of the principles of the Aarhus Convention in Kyrgyzstan: challenges and prospects.”

The manager of the Issyk-Kul Aarhus Center S. Tursunakunov made a presentation on the topic “Activities of the network of Aarhus centers in Kyrgyzstan: lessons learned” and gave detailed information on the activities of Aarhus centers using the example of the Issyk-Kul Aarhus Center.

Zh.Shigaeva, Researcher at the Institute for Mountain Community Studies, University of Central Asia, made a presentation on the topic “Research in the Field of Natural Resources Management: Experience in the Naryn Region”.

After the presentations were completed, moderated by E. Payziev, an open discussion of further action plans of the Aarhus Center in Naryn took place. From the side of the participants of the round table there were many questions regarding the activities of the Aarhus Centers, on joint work with state bodies, with local authorities. On the possibility of collaboration in research purposes.

Following the discussion, the participants gave their suggestions and recommendations and wished them success in the work of the Aarhus Center in Naryn.

Manager of the Issyk-Kul Aarhus Center S. Tursunakunov