Before
the September 11 tragedy, no one in Central Asia would think that their region
would ever become the center of attention of the entire world. Rumors and
fears about the start of large-scale war, and Central Asia being the battle
ground for it, were rapidly spreading among the population. The feelings of
stress and shock deepened when on September 21, the U.S. Embassy in Kyrgyzstan
issued a statement informing about concerns on the security situation for
Americans residing in and visiting Kyrgyzstan. All American citizens in the
Kyrgyz Republic were urged to take those measures they deemed appropriate for
their well-being including considering to leave the country.

For
the American University in Kyrgyzstan, the institution with the largest number
of foreign lecturers in the country, the Embassy's statement had a great
impact. The day after the statement was issued, the Civic Education Project (CEP)
and Indiana University professors teaching at the AUK were asked to leave by
their home organizations. Both organizations have legal liability for the
security of their employees. Foreign professors were informed that their
contracts would be cancelled and they would assume full responsibility for
their own departure in case they refuse to leave.

For
the next several weeks, all airlines were full as many foreigners were leaving
the country. Many courses in the AUK taught by foreign fellows were either
substituted or continued to be taught via Internet chat and email. There were
also some foreign professors who discontinued their contracts with the CEP and
stayed in AUK. While requesting their fellows to leave the country, both CEP
and Indiana University assured that they would remain deeply committed to AUK
and return professors as soon as the situation became safe.

After
a month and a half, Regional Director of CEP Jeff Meyers visited Bishkek in
order to collect information on the security situation in the republic and
report about it to the CEP Board of Directors. Mr. Meyers met with the U.S.
embassy officials, the president of AUK, professors and students, and
investigated the security conditions of those foreigners who remained in the
country. As AUK newspapers The Star reports, Mr. Meyers explained that at the
time when CEP was making its decision on evacuation of its fellows, the
security threat for foreigners in Kyrgyzstan was very real. Mr. Meyers
emphasized that the majority of CEP's Board of Directors is situated in New
York and Washington where the threat at that time was felt much greater than
in Central Asia.

Mr.
Meyers admitted the fact that since the launch of anti-terrorist operation in
Afghanistan, there has been no incident of any criminal act against foreigners
in Kyrgyzstan. The initial period of uncertainty has ended, Mr. Meyers said to
The Star. The Regional Director of CEP left Kyrgyzstan feeling optimistic
about the fact that the information he had gathered would make the CEP's Board
of Directors reconsider their decision to withdraw foreign lecturers from
Kyrgyzstan.

Finally,
in the end of November, the first several CEP professors came back to AUK. As
Norma Jo, the director of the CEP in Central Asia and Mongolia, reported to
The Star, this was the first time ever that CEP had to face such a situation.
Although CEP is now planning to sign a document informing that it has no
direct responsibility for the fellows' security in Kyrgyzstan, the
organization still received a useful experience on handling evacuations. CEP
is now returning to its regular work in AUK. More additional classes by CEP
lecturers are being offered for next semester and more CEP conferences are to
be held soon.

Maria
Utyaganova, student, American University in Kyrgyzstan, Bishkek.