From Deseret News archives:
Valentine, UVSC v.p. going to Kyrgyzstan
U.S. delegation to study government, education issues
Valentine, R-Orem, is traveling to the Asian country with Rusty Butler, an international affairs vice president at Utah Valley State College, and Carol Williams, a Democrat in the Montana Senate, Oct. 1-5.
The U.S. delegation and their spouses will meet with the country's president, vice president, foreign and education ministers, and some local governors, members of parliament and university administrators.
Butler said that Kyrgyzstan, like many former Soviet countries, is an emerging democracy, meaning that society is moving in the direction of fair elections, free press and other institutions associated with democracies.
Currently, the president seeks more power and the parliament is opposing it. Other former Soviet republics have experienced a similar struggle and have altered their constitutions to more clearly define the separation of powers.
"It will be interesting because we're being hosted by the speaker of the parliament and we'll be meeting with a lot of members of parliament," Butler said. "But we'll also be meeting with people in the executive branch."
"We'll probably have parliamentarians come here as well as parliamentarians from here go over there," Butler said.
Valentine is in Istanbul, Turkey, at a conference for state senators and was unavailable for interviews. He will travel from Turkey to Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan's capital.
"There is no cost for the state for his trip to Istanbul or his trip to Kyrgyzstan," said Ric Cantrell, chief deputy of the Senate.
The trip to Istanbul was paid for by the senators conference. Valentine is paying for the leg of the trip to and from Kyrgyzstan.
Butler's trip is paid for by private donors to UVSC.
The relationship between UVSC and Kyrgyzstan began in 1999. Most recently, UVSC hosted 15 judges from Kyrgyzstan to educate them about how the United States seeks "rule by law," or the idea that the law is codified and not arbitrary or from man.
Although the United States has a longer history with democracy than Kyrgyzstan, Butler believes the delegation next week will have a lot to learn.
"They have been through experiences that we have not been through for a couple of centuries," Butler said. "The United States when it was first founded went through horrible growing pains, as you know, and it kept up for decades. And they're going through the same things right now. I think there are many things to learn from these emerging democracies as they find their ways."
E-mail: lhancock@desnews.com
Recent comments
Sounds great ! We all need to get to know Central Asia better....
just me | Sept. 26, 2007 at 11:01 a.m.
- Photo: Crafting nutcrackers 7:20 p.m.
- S.L. budget discussions continue 6:49 p.m.
- Man pleads guilty in assault 6:49 p.m.
- $25K reward offered in slaying 6:21 p.m.
- Step-father arrested in spanking 6:16 p.m.
- S.L. Dems appoint exec. director 6:15 p.m.
- Animal-rights protest issues resolved 6:12 p.m.
- Ex-legislators call for ethics reform 6:06 p.m.
- S.L. will light up for the holidays 6:00 p.m.
- Getting serious about seat belts 5:55 p.m.
- Utah, BYU are top choices for bowls
- BYU would like friendlier rivalry
- Protests against Phoenix LDS temple
- Best prep football games of 2009
- KSL: Prostitution in Utah County
- Man trapped in own body for 23 yrs
- Kirilenko climbing blocks list
- Woman describes stabbing, killing
- Boys basketball rankings
- 'Dancing' will fill out finale
- BYU would like friendlier rivalry
225 - Glenn Beck to enter politics?
222 - RSL wins MLS Cup on penalty kicks
202 - Palin plans tour stop in Utah
179 - Protests against Phoenix LDS temple
178 - Bronco, Kyle rubber match
137 - Palin's book shows she's unqualified
136 - BYU records with win
133 - Letters: Rushing to judge Palin
116 - Officer cleared in Cardall Taser case
104
The initial concept of the Skins game had a certain appeal. However, to be a...
Suspicious. Well, everything maybe as you say, but just like the medical...
As a Republican who strongly supports the ethics initiative, Utah GOP...
Maybe we could all meet for punch and cookies before the game?
For everyone talking about provo and olympus. Last year means nothing,...
Maybe so, but we can still beat BYU, who is beyond dwindled.
Ben, She didn't write the book, someone wrote it for her. Obama is...
The previews and commercials bore me for this film. I will probably wait...
@7:06 pm, You wrote, "forcing their views on others.." That's what...
I am currently a graduate student at the U, did my undergrad at USU and grew...



