On June 14-17, 2021, the Head of the OSCE Program Office in Bishkek, A. A. Rogov, arrived in Mailuu-Suu on a working visit. The Ambassador was accompanied by specialists from the OSCE Programme Office in Bishkek. The main purpose of the visit was to get acquainted with the socio-economic situation in the city of Mailuu-Suu and the state of the uranium tailings dumps located here, as well as the rehabilitation works carried out at the uranium heritage sites. Discussion of cooperation with the Mayor’s Office of Mailuu Suu in various areas of OSCE activities also took place.

Within the framework of the visit, a meeting was held with the participation of the mayor of the city of Mailuu-Suu Umarov N. E., the chairman of the city Kenesh Kyrgyzbayev A.M., Vice-Mayor Masirova Ch. During the meeting, Umarov N. E. and Masirov Ch. informed the guests about the socio-economic situation in Mailuu-Suu. The participants of the meeting were informed about the uranium objects.

The head of the OSCE Programme Office in Bishkek, Rogov A. A., congratulated Umarov N. E. on his election as mayor of Mailuu-Suu and wished him success in his work. He expressed his opinion on the multifaceted cooperation with the OSCE. He noted the important role of international organizations in the reclamation and conservation of uranium tailings.

OSCE representative D. Prudtskikh spoke about the ongoing reclamation of uranium waste in Mailuu-Suu with the support of international donors. He spoke in detail about the ongoing public education, information dissemination and information activities carried out by the Aarhus Center in Osh and the Public Environmental Information Center established in Mailuu-Suu.

The head of the OSCE Department of Ecology and Economics, Mrs. E. Nakashidze, noted the important role of the mayor’s office, deputies and local residents in solving the problem of uranium waste. She expressed her opinion on the dissemination of information on the ongoing work on reclamation, on improvement of the image of the city. In addition, she suggested holding an investment forum to the meeting participants. In addition, she emphasized the possibility of using the tourist potential of Mailuu-Suu.

Then the participants visited the innovative school-gymnasium No. 4 named after Yuri Gagarin and presented gifts to the participants and winners of the competition on radiation and environmental safety and environmental protection among 7 secondary schools of Mailuu-Suu. As a result of the competition, the following schools were awarded with valuable gifts from the OSCE, the Mayor’s Office of Mailuu-Suu and the Aarhus Center:

1st place – innovative school-gymnasium No. 4 named after Yu.A. Gagarin – a color printer, valuable gifts from the mayor’s office and a diploma.

2nd place – School No. 2 – paints for renovating the school, valuable gifts from the City Hall and a diploma.

3rd place – School No. 1 – sports balls, valuable gifts from the City Hall and a diploma.

The remaining 4 schools, participants in the competitions, were awarded valuable gifts from the mayor’s office and diplomas.

The head of the OSCE Program Office in Bishkek, A. A. Rogov, and the Mayor of Mailuu-Suu, N. E. Umarov, wished the contest participants ,managers, members of the Green Patrols teams and school principals success in their studies and work. During the award ceremony, students and teachers asked questions and suggestions for improving the environmental situation and the city’s infrastructure.

The next meeting took place in the city House of Culture. The meeting was attended by members of the working group on the creation of the Museum of the Atomic Industry. The representatives of the working group acquainted the participants with the concept of the museum and informed about the work done to date to organize the museum. The participants of the meeting examined special rooms for the future Museum. The participants of the meeting noted that a lot of work lies ahead in the creation of a museum of nuclear production.

The participants of the meeting visited uranium tailings dumps. They got acquainted with the state of the tailing dump of uranium waste located on the bank of the Mailuu-Suu River and landslide-prone areas. The representative of the Ministry of Emergency Situations provided detailed information on the work on the transfer of the emergency tailings storage facility, on the upcoming reclamation works at the uranium tailings storage facilities and the conservation of objects and buildings of uranium production.

At the end of the visit, representatives of the OSCE Program Office in Bishkek and the Mayluu-Suu city administration got acquainted with the work of the Mailuu-Suu electric lamp plant.

On June 17, 2021, within the framework of a working visit, the Head of the OSCE Program Office in Bishkek A.A. Rogov and OSCE staff visited the Aarhus Information Center in the city of Osh.

Director of the Aarhus Information Center K. Isabaev spoke in detail about the activities of the center. During the meeting, he informed the guests about the activities of the Aarhus Information Center within the framework of the projects “Uranium Heritage in Central Asia” and “Promoting a Green Economy and Natural Resource Management” in 2020-2021. The main partners of the Center in the implementation of the Aarhus Convention are the regional subdivisions of the State Committee for Ecology and Climate, the State Ecological and Technical Inspection, local authorities, regional state administrations, mass media and higher educational institutions. He noted the importance of cooperation of the Center with local self-government bodies, regional state administrations and NGOs in the implementation of projects on environmental protection and various environmental actions. He noted that the main activities of the Center are the provision of environmental information to the public, practical support for public participation in the decision-making process on environmental issues and the implementation of the principles of justice.

Head of the OSCE Program Office in Bishkek A.A. Rogov noted the important role of the Aarhus Center in disseminating environmental information among the population and ensuring their right to participate in the decision-making process and also wished them success in their future events.

The OSCE representative D. Prudtskikh noted the importance of the opening of the Aarhus Information Center and its fruitful work, noting that for many years it has been carrying out activities to implement the Aarhus Convention. He noted the close cooperation of the Aarhus Information Center in the city of Osh with the Aarhus Centers in the cities of Bishkek, Cholpon-Ata, Khujand and Khorog. He informed the participants about the opening by the Aarhus Center of Public Environmental Information Centers and their successful work in Mailuu Suu, in the villages of Min Kush and Shekaftar within the framework of the project “Uranium Heritage in Central Asia”.

The meeting participants discussed the plans of the Aarhus Center for 2022 and cooperation with regional partners in the implementation of cross-border projects.

Aarhus Center in Osh. 17.06.2021.