Kyrgyz political scientists, diplomats and experts will gather to discuss the U.S. foreign policy in Central Asia at the scientific-practical conference to run Thursday in the Kyrgyz Russian Slavic University in Bishkek.

“Favorable geography and mineral riches make Central Asian region attractive for the United States. However, the U.S. foreign policy of the 90s was mostly targeted at restraining Russia’s, China’s and Iran’s influence spread in the region. In this regard America supports strengthening ties between Central Asian states and Turkey and strives to promote their involvement into various west European projects and structures, such as NATO or Partnership for Peace,” the experts said.

At the present moment Russia is actively implementing its comeback strategy to the region. It has adopted a doctrine of military, political, social, economical and culture cooperation with the post soviet states, which may give birth to a new confrontation with the west for power spread.

The experts do not rule out a possibility of Russia-U.S. confrontation worsening in the region after the conflict in South Ossetia, which may motivate Washington to reconsider its cooperation terms with Central Asia. Possible changes and their consequences are going to be discussed at the conference.

The event is organized by the KRSU chair of Political Science and Center of American Science, International Relations Department of the Kyrgyz International University and the U.S. Embassy in Bishkek.