Kyrgyz govt approves national flag alterations
BISHKEK. Dec 4 (Interfax) - The Kyrgyz government has supported a bill introducing alterations to the national flag and a review of respective laws and regulations.
Temporary provisions are proposed in case of alterations to the national flag to avoid law enforcement discrepancies, the government said.
"All types of official documents depicting the state flag of the Kyrgyz Republic adopted in 1992 will remain valid until the expiry date. If there is no expiry date, then they will be valid until a designated authority decides to replace them," the government said.
The passports and drivers' licenses of Kyrgyz citizens depicting the 1992 state flag will remain valid until their expiry date, the government said. License plates and vehicle registrations will be valid until their replacement.
The Kyrgyz government proposes that the law take effect within seven days of its publication. The government is tasked with reconciling its norms and regulations with the law within three months.
The government noted flaws in the new flag's parameters, and proposed improving the bill and indicating the correct parameters.
Meanwhile, objections have been raised in Kyrgyzstan against altering the state symbol. Social media users have been accessing the website of Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov, urging him to drop the idea of altering the flag.
Kyrgyz State Secretary Suiunbek Kasmambetov said on social media that he, the president, and National Security Committee Chairman Kamchybek Tashiyev liked the idea at first, but the public discussion indicates that the current flag is in people's hearts and minds.
"Let us hope that the people's representatives take public opinion into account. No matter what happens, I am asking for tolerance towards each other," Kasmambetov said.
The Kyrgyz parliament approved a bill changing the form of the rays on the national flag at its first reading on November 29.
Parliament Speaker Nurlanbek Shakiyev and MP Ulan Primorov initiated alterations to the flag. They have proposed changing the wave-like shape of the rays on the Kyrgyz flag to a shape that clearly resembles the rays of the sun.
