During the 20th century, Kyrgyzstan was incorporated into the USSR. Nowadays, as an independent republic, Kyrgyzstan is struggling to successfully implement free-market reforms and maintain political and ethnic stability. The Kyrgyz government has been actively pursuing ethnic tolerance and democratization polices. Kyrgyzstan has the most liberal media in the former Soviet Union, while both the Russian and Kyrgyz languages are official in this country of well-educated population and a sizable Russian minority.

Kyrgyzstan has a self-sufficient agricultural sector, rich in mineral resources and with high potential in hydroelectric power generation, while economic ties remain strong with Russia and the other members of the Commonwealth Independent States (CIS).

The Fulbright Exchange Program with Kyrgyzstan was initially established in the 1970s as a part of the Fulbright Program with the USSR. It was extended in the early 1990s to create the U.S.-Kyrgyz Program when the Kyrgyz Republic declared its independence. Since then, there has been a gradual expansion in the number of scholar exchanges in a wide variety of fields.

Embassy of Kyrgyzstan
www.kyrgyzstan.org/
Information on visas, history, politics, business, etc.

Russian and East European Network Information Center
http://reenic.utexas.edu/reenic/Countries/Kyrgyzstan/kyrgyzstan.html University of Texas - excellent links to numerous other sites by topic

Harriman Institute
www.cc.columbia.edu/cu/sipa/REGIONAL/HI/kyrgyzst.html - Numerous contact points

Slavic Research
http://src-home.slav.hokudai.ac.jp/eng/server-e-fr2.html
The history of the country, healthcare, economy, electronic linksesearch Center,  Hokkaido University - Numerous links on all sorts of topics. GREAT SITE!!! Links for almost any information you want about Kazakhstan.

Interactive Central Asia Project  (ICARP)
www.icarp.org/
Excellent site with numerous links to other sites covering a wide range of information and interests.

Central Intelligence Agency
www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/kg.html
World Fact Book - a compendium of statistical data for Kyrgyzstan.

AsiaInfo
www.kg/
Links on the arts, institutions, business, tourism, news, medical,  education and computers.

Political Resources on the Net
www.agora.stm.it/politic/kyrgyzstan.htm
Torre  Argentina Societa di Servizi - numerous connections focusing on the political structure  and politics of the country. Last update 9/2/98  

National Statistical Committee of the Kyrgyz Republic
http://nsc.bishkek.su/Eng/Home/Start.htm
Interesting site in Russian and English for statistical information

Friends and Partners
http://solar.rtd.utk.edu/friends/ref/other.nis.html
Kyrgyz Home Site  with a number of links on various topics  

Kabar News Agency
http://kabar.gov.kg/english/all.html
News of Kyrgyzstan divided into many topic areas.

Education

American University of Central Asia
www.auca.kg/

Central and Eastern European Education Directory
www.ceebd.co.uk/ceeed/educatio.htm 
A great site with lots of information on education systems in Central and Eastern Europe.

BISNIS
www.bisnis.doc.gov/bisnis/country/cntasia.htm
Country business reports for Central Asia.

Travel

Columbus Travel Guides
www.wtgonline.com/data/kgz/kgz.asp
Much useful information about the country from the traveller's point of view

Coyne Airways
www.coyneair.com/useful_links/kyrgyzstan.htm
A number of links as part of the Interactive Central Asia Resource Project. 

Lonely Planet Guides
www.lonelyplanet.com.au/letters/cas/kyr_pc.htm
Information about Kyrgyzstan from travelers

Cheap Flights
www.cheapflights.co.uk/ 
Information on flights from  Europe, booking agents, etc.

European Travel Network
www.etn.nl/
Information on travel to Georgia, hotels, etc.