Azernews.Az

By Aynur Jafarova

The European Union has allocated 4.5 million euros since 2011 to support a program on the prevention of conflicts and peacebuilding in Kyrgyzstan, Kyrgyz Telegraph Agency quoted EU ambassador to Kyrgyzstan Chantal Hebberecht as saying.

"The EU began to support the projects of peacebuilding and prevention of conflicts after the June 2010 incidents," Hebberecht said, referring to the deadly ethnic clashes in southern Kyrgyzstan. "It has allocated 4.5 million euros for this purpose. It was a very serious project which was implemented by 16 local and international non-governmental organizations."

Hebberecht said that the EU is ready to further support the efforts on peacebuilding and prevention of conflicts.

Ethnic Kyrgyzes and Uzbeks clashed in southern Kyrgyzstan, primarily in the cities of Osh and Jalal-Abad, in June 2010.

Uzbekistan launched a limited troop incursion early on, but withdrew and opened its borders to Uzbek refugees. The clashes killed up to 2,000 people, mostly Uzbeks, and another 100,000 were displaced.

Program Coordinator Dariha Erketaeva said that other donors have allocated $500,000 more for the implementation of the program, which started in November 2011. In the framework of the project, 750 managers of local communities in the Kyrgyz regions have undergone trainings on mediation while 10 communities were taught courses on psychological rehabilitation and support.

"1,200 families and entrepreneurs who suffered from the June 2010 incidents in southern Kyrgyzstan received various legal assistance. Furthermore, projects on the improvement of infrastructure -- construction and repair of kindergartens, feldsher-obstetrics facilities, schools, water supply systems in 90 villages -- are being completed," Erketaeva said.

She added that 500 young people took courses on professional vocational education; 300 farmer families received grants to establish small business and to meet their agricultural needs; three business associations in the south of the country were provided with technical and financial assistance; 20 representatives of small business affected by the June 2010 incidents got grants and reinstated their enterprises.