Kyrgyzstan
Geography - People - Economy - Government - Communications - Transportation - Military - Transnational IssuesCountry name - conventional long form : Kyrgyz Republic
Country name - conventional short form : Kyrgyzstan
Country name - local long form : Kyrgyz Respublikasy
Country name - local short form : Kyrgyzstan
Country name - former : Kirghiz Soviet Socialist Republic
Government type : republic
Capital - name : Bishkek
Capital - time difference : UTC+6 (11 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
National holiday : Independence Day, 31 August (1991)
Population : 5,356,869 (July 2008 est.)
Nationality - noun : Kyrgyzstani(s)
Nationality - adjective : Kyrgyzstani
Languages : Kyrgyz 64.7% (official), Uzbek 13.6%, Russian 12.5% (official), Dungun 1%, other 8.2% (1999 census)
Currency (code) : som (KGS)
Currency code : KGS
Kyrgyzstan is located Central Asia, west of China. The climate is dry continental to polar in high Tien Shan; subtropical in southwest (Fergana Valley); temperate in northern foothill zone. The terrain is peaks of Tien Shan and associated valleys and basins encompass entire nation.
Background
This entry usually highlights major historic events and current issues and may include a statement about one or two key future trends.Background - December 2007 elections. Current concerns include : privatization of state-owned enterprises, negative trends in democracy and political freedoms, reduction of corruption, improving interethnic relations, and combating terrorism.
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