DUSHANBE, June 28, Asia-Plus - Beginning on June 30, citizens of Tajikistan, mainly ethnic Kyrgyz, who arrived in Kyrgyzstan following militant and political conflict in Tajikistan 1993-1997, will not be considered refugees any more.  

According to information from the UNCHR Country Office in Tajikistan , such a decision has been made by the UNHCR Country Office in Kyrgyzstan in connection with the fact that the civil conflict in Tajikistan ended in 1997 and at present political situation and a general human rights situation in Tajikistan are recognized to be stable.  

“In this connection, Kyrgyzstan ’s president signed an appropriate edict on this subject,” the source said, noting that those wanting to stay in Kyrgyzstan permanently now should receive Kyrgyz citizenship.   They may receive Kyrgyz citizenship in accordance with simplified procedure, lodging applications for citizenship through a network of NGOs till September 2006.  

According to data provided by the UNHCR Country Office in Tajikistan , at present ethnic Kyrgyz from Tajikistan are staying in the Zhayil district near Bishkek, and their number is some 1,100 people.  

The largest exodus of ethnic Kyrgyz was caused by the military and political conflict in Tajikistan in 1993-1997.  Many of them had received refugee status.