Carroll College awarded the president of Kyrgyzstan an honorary doctorate degree for his leadership and public service Wednesday, in a ceremony filled with pomp and circumstance.

Earlier in the day at the state Capitol, with his delegation present, President Askar Akaev touted education as his country's single greatest tool in establishing true reform and building a lasting democracy.

"Education is the highest priority for the Republic of Kyrgyzstan," Akaev said at a morning discussion with Gov. Judy Martz. "We're sending thousands of students to learn in the United States. These students are our future leaders, our future presidents, and our future members of government."

Akaev said that 10 years ago, former President Clinton offered assistance to what was then a fledgling Republic of Kyrgyzstan.

"My request to him was to open an American university in Kyrgyzstan," Akaev said. "Now we have the American University of Central Asia, and we believe it is the best university in the former Soviet Union."

Several educators were also present at the morning discussion, including Dr. Almaz Akmateliev, a Fulbright scholar from Naryn University in Kyrgyzstan, and Dr. Greg Weisenstein, who serves as the dean of the College of Education at Montana State University.

"I have come to appreciate the many challenges and opportunities that are shared by our people," Weisenstein said. "This collaborative effort will enable us to pool our resources and improve life in both Montana and Kyrgyzstan."

Dr. Tom Trebon, president of Carroll College, signed a pact just two weeks ago with Naryn University. The pact, Trebon said, will help advance education in Kyrgyzstan at both the collegiate and elementary levels.

After the roundtable discussion and a brief press conference in the governor's reception room, during which lavish gifts were exchanged between Martz and Akaev, the attention shifted to Carroll College.

Clad in commencement regalia, Akaev and Martz, along with Trebon and others, paraded onto a small stage at the Carroll student center in a closely monitored and regimented ceremony put on solely for the president.

Trebon, who said Carroll was committed to developing a global perspective, opened the ceremony by praising Akaev for leading his country through a time of "extraordinary change."

Trebon said the college fully supported the president's efforts in building the culture and habits needed to maintain an open and democratic society. Trebon then praised Akaev's efforts in establishing lasting peace.

"Akaev has played a significant role in building relationships with his neighbors in a region of the world both historically, and in these days, critical to both global peace and stability," Trebon said.

Akaev was met with a standing ovation after his introduction.

In a 15-minute speech presented in English, the president cited his efforts to stabilize Central Asia through his Silk Route Diplomacy -- a concept he presented in an official document at the UN General Assembly in 1998.

Akaev said the thieves that once robbed travelers on the Great Silk Road have been replaced by a new brand of evil in terrorism. It was a similar sentiment which the president touched upon earlier in the day in the governor's reception room.

"A call was made on the part of the president of the United States in the aftermath of the events on Sept. 11, 2001, to build the anti-terrorism coalition," Akaev said. "Kyrgyzstan and other Central Asian countries were not hesitant and were one of the first to respond to that call."

Akaev said Kyrgyzstan has made its territory available for the U.S. military, as well as its allies, to fight sources of terrorism in Afghanistan and Iraq.

"Without development of democracy in (Iraq), peace and stability are impossible in this -- one of the most turbulent parts of the world," Akaev said.

The ceremony at Carroll College marked the last official order of business on the president's agenda before leaving Montana. It also marked the end of a full day, which saw both Akaev and Martz sign a "Memorandum of Understanding" at the Capitol.

The document vowed that Montana and Kyrgyzstan would continue to work towards economic development, education, disaster and emergency services, and law enforcement that "enhances the respect of civil liberties."

"This memorandum is worth its gold," Akaev had said. "That's what we say in Russian -- worth its gold -- when something is of extraordinary value."

Reporter Martin Kidston can be reached at 447-4086, or by e-mail at mkidston@helenair.com