Press Release Ex-President of the Kyrgyz Republic Visits the United States
December 20, 2012, 06:00
18 December 2012
During the Annual Conference of the Madrid Club in Little Rock, Arkansas, a meeting took place between the Kyrgyzstani Ex-President, Roza Otunbayeva, and the American Ex-President, Bill Clinton. In the course of the meeting, the two Ex-Presidents discussed possible means of cooperation between the Clinton Foundation and the ‘Roza Otunbayeva Initiative, including exchanging expertise and technology in the realm of educational projects, healthcare, improving the economic capabilities of women, etc. Taking into consideration the unfortunate fact that Kyrgyzstan is included in the list of 7 countries with the fastest growing rate of HIV/AIDS infections, the American Ex-President stated that he was prepared to help in the fight against this epidemic.
Additionally, Mr. Clinton invited Ms. Otunbayeva to participate in the annual donors meeting of the Clinton Foundation, planned for April 2013 in New York, as well as the annual meeting of the Global Clinton Initiative, which is planned for September 2013.
On that day, Ms. Otunbayeva participated in a meeting of the members of the Council of Women World Leaders, to which she as invited as a new member. The Council of Women World Leaders is a network of current and former women presidents and prime ministers, with the mission of mobilizing the highest-level women leaders globally for collective action on issues of critical importance to women. Currently, there are 50 members of the Council including German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Latvian Ex-President Vaira Vike-Freidberga. The Council’s Chairwoman is the Finnish Ex-President Tarja Halonen.
Ms. Otunbayeva also met with the Alyse Nelson, President of the international humanitarian organization Vital Voices, representatives of the international non-profit Heifer International, as well as with other participants of the Madrid Club conference.
19 December 2012
On the last day of her US visit, Ms. Otunbayeva visited Indian Creek School in Crownsville, Maryland. The Ex-President was invited to this school by students, who had organized a youth social network in support of Ms. Otunbayeva and her initiatives. During her visit, Ms. Otunbayeva met the school’s teachers and students, spoke about the Kyrgyz Republic, and about her own work after the presidency.
On the same day, Ms. Otunbayeva met with Dr. Dan Davidson, President of the American Councils for International Education (ACTR/ACCELS), as well as with his colleagues. In this meeting, they discussed possible cooperation in the development of Kyrgyzstani education in particular mandatory pre-school education for all the nation’s children.
