Taalaibek Tatkulov, deputy head of Kyrgyzstan\'s Social Fund, which is responsible for coordinating tax payments that fund social services, told a news conference in Bishkek on August 30 that his agency is in talks with U.S.-based NGO Freedom House about the payment of back taxes the fund says it is owed. The fund has estimated the back taxes owed by Freedom House,which says it is tax-exempt under a 1993 agreement, at $1 million. Tatkulov said that while his agency insists that Freedom House pay the back taxes, it is willing to give the organization time to do so. (RFE/RL)