There are now thirteen visiting lecturers and five eastern scholars working in Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan. In 1999, CEP's Central Asian office moved from Almaty to the American University in Kyrgyzstan, Bishkek. At CEP conferences, talented students from Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Russia, Belarus, Ukraine, Mongolia and other countries discuss current events, economic development and contemporary issues, and debate and share their opinions. CEP conferences provide an excellent opportunity for outstanding students to meet each other, to overcome their national prejudices and find their common ground, and to get to know other countries' cultures. As a result of the conferences, students feel more integrated in the international community.
Students also establish better connections with universities in other countries.
Of course, there are some difficulties and challenges CEP lecture Fellows have to face, such as the unreliability of transportation, badly equipped libraries, the resistance of university administrations to reforms, low wages, that dampen academic discipline and dedication. No one can deny that the challenges are great and that in the short run CEP lecture Fellows will not see any fundamental scientific contribution from their students. But the challenges do not stop them. Instead the challenges give Fellows greater strength as they feel more needed in this region. CEP Fellows strongly believe that the results of their work will be seen in the democratic reforms of those critical intellectuals to whom they have contributed.