NRGI Discusses Mining Governance With Deputy Speaker of Kyrgyz Parliament

Yesterday, the press service of the parliament of Kyrgyzstan released the following story:

On March 30, Asiia Sasykbaeva, deputy speaker of parliament in Kyrgyzstan, met with Galib Efendiev, Eurasia director for the Natural Resource Governance Institute (NRGI), to exchange views on the country’s mining sector development and legal framework.

So far, Kyrgyzstan’s experience with issues related to the mining sector has been negative, Ms. Sasykbaeva said, but parliamentarians are “trying to fill this gap.”

“MPs [members of parliament] are actively studying mining legislation,” she said. “We are trying to develop a transparent and effective management system within the mining sector.”

One of the existing problems in the industry, she added, is a lack of qualified lawyers who could protect the country’s interests in international courts. “We need lawyers with expertise in international law on ecology and the mining sector. We are also interested in gaining theoretical knowledge of the entire production chain, from licenses to tax receipts of the state,” she said.

NRGI’s Galib Efendiev detailed his organization’s profound experience collaborating with parliamentarians in countries with extractive industries. In particular, he discussed Mongolia, which has faced situations similar to those of Kyrgyzstan.

“We can work out a comprehensive program for parliament, including expert collaboration, capacity building, site visits and knowledge sharing with other countries. And this program will be based on concrete tasks,” he said.

As the meeting concluded, both parties noted the need to intensify the exchange of experience to develop concrete immediate steps toward improving the legislative framework and parliamentary oversight of the mining industry.

This article originally appeared in Russian at http://kenesh.kg/RU/Pages/ViewNews.aspx?id=8&NewsID=22729