[Excerpt] Our correspondent interviewed Sheripzhan Merup Oghli Nadirov, professor at the department of economic and social geography, doctor of geography at Kazakhstan's Al Farabi National University and chairman of the [Ittipak] Ethnic Association of Uighurs, a few days ago. Dear readers, here is this interview.
[Correspondent] There have been great changes in the world following the major act of terrorism in the US on 11 September 2001. The US Government toppled the Taliban regime in Afghanistan, which was considered a breeding ground for terrorism. It then invaded Iraq. It is now trying to establish an Iraqi government loyal to the US. Acts of terrorism and violence have increased in many countries in the world. What kind of an influence has had this difficult international situation on Uighur people living in foreign countries?
[Nadirov] Everybody knows that crimes committed by some people in Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan acquired particular overtones in 2000. In particular myths about "Uighur extremism" and "Uighur terrorism," which are discrediting our nation, have appeared in the Russian, Chinese, and other countries' media. However, the authors of the myths have not provided any conclusive evidence that there is a link between the Uighur people and international terrorism or between the Uighur people and "Uighur extremism" and "Uighur terrorism." They proved to be a mere lie. They were created by some circles keen to destabilize the situation in Central Asia. This problem, however, is still on the agenda. Uighur public organizations and political movements have to make great efforts to draw the attention of the world community to the Uighur problem. It was not by chance that fighting terrorism was one of the most important issues on the agenda of a world congress of Uighur people, which was held in Munich in Germany in April this year.
[Correspondent] Do you think that the current international situation prompted Uighurs to convene their world congress?
[Merup Oghli] Yes, I do. However, it is necessary to point out that the Uighur problem remains unsolved in Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Region. This is particularly conspicuous in violations of human rights. For example, Uighur people are being humiliated. There is an obvious economic lawlessness, which is having an adverse effect on young Uighur people. Chinese workers and experts, who are flowing to Xinjiang from central China, are squeezing out local young [Uighur] people from their workplaces in industry and agriculture. In other words, favorable conditions are being created for the intruders, although the local people are jobless. Some representatives of the Islamic religion are being blindly labelled as "terrorists," "Wahhabis," and "Islamic extremists." We should give a corresponding response to such accusations. It is this factor that speeded up the convening of the world congress of Uighur people. [Passage omitted: background information]
[Correspondent] Everybody knows that the founding congress of the Eastern Turkestan (Uighuristan) [separatist organization] was held in Istanbul in 1992. Could you detail the work done over the past 12 years?
[Merup Oghli] Above all, it should be pointed out that the world congress of Uighur people, which was held in Munich recently, is a direct result of the congress of the Eastern Turkestan [organization], which was held in Istanbul 12 years ago. [Passage omitted: congress details]
There have been quality changes in methods of and approaches to resolving the Uighur problem. The congress is now trying to resolve it through an objective assessment of the regional and international situations, instead of the former imprudent approaches to the Uighur problem.
[Correspondent] Many readers want to learn of a world congress of Uighurs, which was held in Munich on 16-19 April this year. Could you give details of this congress?
[Merup Oghli] A political elite of Uighur people has began to take shape abroad. It was these people who proposed convening the world congress of Uighur people in response to requirements stemming from the geopolitical development of Central Asia. [Passage omitted: background on world congresses of Uighurs]
Under the regulations adopted at the world congress of Uighur people in Munich, this congress' activities will be based on the following principles: fighting terrorism. Terrorism is considerably dangerous for Uighur people because it could be used as a pretext for exterminating the Uighur nation. Terrorism is totally unacceptable for Uighur people wherever they live. This should be the basic principle for every Uighur public organization, political movement, and party.
Uighur people should respect the laws in the countries where they live and observe them strictly. Uighur people should not carry out activities that jeopardize national security in the countries where they live.
These principles show that the political elite of Uighur people, which is currently developing abroad, has completely changed its attitude to regional and geopolitical issues. Meanwhile, no one has any illusions that the Uighur problem could be resolved in the near future.
The center of Uighur political activity has begun to move to the West, the US, and Canada. European nations, the US, Canada, and China can have a real influence on democratic processes in Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Region. Taking advantage of its sphere of influence at the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and based on a myth about "Uighur terrorism," China is trying to bring up the issue on the democratic processes at the international level. [Passage omitted: Chinese economic achievements]
===== Nu, zayats, pogodi!
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