Based on the results of the survey the following projections can be made: 1) Even taking into consideration that the survey has focused on areas with high levels of transborder movements, the actual number of stateless persons residing in the South of the Kyrgyz Republic is likely to be 30-35 per cent higher than 11,655. 2) The number of stateless ethnic Kyrgyz in the Kyrgyz Republic will grow as they continue to immigrate from neighbouring countries. 3) The number of stateless children will increase as more and more labour migrants adopt Russian citizenship. Many stateless persons have a strong and enduring connection with the Kyrgyz Republic: • • • • 92 per cent of respondents have Kyrgyz citizens as close relatives. 99 per cent of stateless individuals arriving from outside the borders of the Kyrgyz Republic have done so to return to their native motherland or to marry a Kyr gyz citizen, and therefore have a strong motivation to stay permanently. Most stateless persons have already resided in the Kyrgyz Republic for over five years and have integrated into their respective communities. Almost all respondents connect their future with the Kyrgyz Republic and wish to ac quire Kyrgyz citizenship. These findings should buttress the interest of local communities and the State in legalizing and naturalizing stateless persons. On 5 December 2008, a round table for relevant State agencies was conducted in Osh city to present the preliminary results of the survey, meet the project field teams and try to come up with joint solutions for the problem of statelessness. Senior officials and staff of the DPVC in Osh City and the provinces of Osh, Batken and Jalalabat as well as from the Osh city committee on migration and employment participated. The round table recommended the following: • • • • To adopt a resolution similar to, but of longer validity than, resolution #30 that the MIA issued on 13 February 2008. Based on this resolution, the documents of 628 stateless persons (ethnic Kyrgyz from the Republic of Uzbekistan residing in Alabuka and Aksy districts) were examined and recognized as Kyrgyz citizens in simplified procedures. This resolution was in force for only two months, and all procedures took place from 15-19 February 2008. To consider introducing a practice similar to that of the Russian Federation, where the Regional Federal Agency defines citizenship and takes decisions independently. To let provincial DPVCs grant Kyrgyz citizenship without involving the Commission on Citizenship of the Kyrgyz President. To arrange regular sessions of the Presidential Commission on Citizenship Issues in the southern provinces or establish a permanent regional commission on citizenship issues. • To remove the requirement to provide a valid (that is, not expired) identity document when applying for Kyrgyz citizenship. Based on the results of the survey and an analysis of legislation and practices, the Center for International Protection and the Fergana Valley Lawyers without Borders recommend the following additional measures: • 34 To change the current procedure to allow stateless persons in categories 2 and 3 to re ceive Kyrgyz passports at the local passport departments without undergoing The Situation of Stateless Persons in the Kyrgyz Republic: Findings of Surveys Commissioned by the UNHCR