Baku, Azerbaijan, Feb. 12
By Viktoriya Zhavoronkova - Trend:
World's hegemons are pleasing their ambitions by asserting influence on smaller and weaker countries. But unfortunately, they forget that the people living in these smaller states often suffer from big political games.
Kyrgyzstan is facing a hard choice - to enter, or not to enter the Customs Union of Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan. Kyrgyzstan and Russia confirmed their commitment to deepen bilateral ties, including the issue of integration structures, one of which is the Customs Union during recent meetings of Kyrgyz President Almazbek Atambayev with Russian high level officials in Sochi.
The Kyrgyz government expressed its commitment to join the structure in 2011, but in late 2013 it stated that the document of joining "does not meet Kyrgyzstan's interests" and now they are in the process of consideration.
For Russia - Kyrgyzstan's membership in this Union means expansion of its influence in the region, but what about Kyrgyzstan and its people? Officials often mention the country's political will to join the Union, unfortunately no one ask the country's ordinary people, who will fully feel its consequences.
Observers are worried about the fate of Dordoy market, which is considered to be one of the biggest markets in Central Asia, and several other smaller markets. Reportedly, Dordoy's annual turnover amounts to hundreds of millions of dollars due to re-export of Turkish and Chinese goods. These trade empires probably will collapse after joining the Union because the customs duties are expected to double if it happens.
The entrepreneurs of Dordoy expect joining the Customs Union with great trepidation, and according to surveys 70 percent of them are it, Kyrgyz office of Radio Liberty reported.
"There will be no business if prices will rise," the agency quotes one of the entrepreneurs of this market.
This will increase unemployment's percentage in the country and a new wave of labor migrant will leave Kyrgyzstan.
Experts believe that the membership in Customs Union will also affect Kyrgyzstan's light Industry.
For ordinary consumers Kyrgyzstan's joining the Union means total price rise in the country, so
Kyrgyz consumer will suffer from the membership most of all. As a result, the country may face inflation growth.
"We should not enter the Union, we should think about our future," an anonymous Kyrgyz citizen shared his opinion on a social network.
"Let's organize protests and ask our parliament not to join the structure, because we, ordinary people, will suffer more and more. Customs Union, take your hands off Kyrgyzstan!," another Kyrgyz replied.
One other proposed to create a union with China and Turkey, who he said were good trade partners.
These are the opinions of ordinary people, whose life depends on high political decisions and ambitions. Definitely, there are also good sides to Kyrgyzstan's joining the structure, primarily, possible restoration of national production that is unlikely to happen without Customs Union in near future.
But, as negative consequences still dominate the government of Kyrgyzstan should still thoroughly consider this important political step.
The increased level of corruption and the gap between poor and rich, caused by joining the Union, low buying power in the country may bring the next revolution to Kyrgyzstan and this is the biggest threat.