DUSHANBE , July 13, Asia-Plus - Poverty in Central Asia is comparable to that, which reigns in Africa – that is the main thesis of the UNDP recent report.  

According to information from the UNDP Dushanbe Office, the UNDP Director for Europe and CIS, Dr. Kalman Mizsei, Wednesday noted in his interview with Deutsche Welle that Central Asia ’s countries had tried to retain Soviet standard of providing universal primary education in achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) but failed to do this completely.  

According to Dr. Mizsei, an attendance rate in primary school in Tajikistan has dropped to 88 percent, the same process have taken place in Kyrgyzstan .  

Mr. Mizsei noted that one of the most difficult for achieving was the goal on achievement of gender equality.  It is typical even for Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan , according to him.  

According to UNDP, an average per capital income in Tajikistan , Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan is comparable to the analogous indices in many poorest African countries.  Speaking on ways to achieve the MDGs the UNDP official pointed to the necessity of raising quality of economic reforms “following example of Kazakhstan .”   

Besides, it is necessary to expand regional cooperation in Central Asia .  “Small states – Kyrgyzstan , Tajikistan – are obliged to cooperate with their neighbors,” Mr. Mizsei said, noting that success may accompany them if, besides reforms, proper cooperation, trade and transportation means are established in the region. 

He also called for paying attention to problems facing Ferghana Valley as the most tensive spot in the region and the fight against spread of HIV/AIDS.