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OSCE Parliamentary Assembly and Kyrgyzstan share interest in strengthening of parliamentary system
BISHKEK 10 June 2003
BISHKEK, 10 June 2003 - Bruce George, President of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly, paid a visit to the Kyrgyz capital Bishkek on 9 and 10 June, 2003, to express the Assembly's and his own personal strong interest in reforms of the political system being conducted and planned in Kyrgyzstan.
Mr.George, who is a Member of the British House of Commons and the Chair of its Defense committee, arrived from Almaty in Kazakhstan, where he had chaired the first Trans-Asian Parliamentary Forum under the title of "The Trans-Asian Dimension of the OSCE: A Vital Security Link" from 7 to 9 June, 2003. On this occasion, he also held talks with parliamentary delegations from Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan.
During his stay in Bishkek, Mr.George had an extensive exchange of views with President Askar Akaev and the Speakers of the two chambers of the Kyrgyz Parliament, Mr. Abdygani Erkebaev and Mr.Altai Borubaev on the topics of constitutional and parliamentary reforms and cooperation between the parliament and government of Kyrgyzstan with the OSCE and in particular, with the Parliamentary Assembly. He emphasized the strong interest of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly in the participation of Central Asian parliamentarians in the work and the gatherings of the Assembly such as the forthcoming annual session in Rotterdam. As an experienced parliamentarian, Mr.George showed special interest in the work of parliamentary committees and the role of the parliament in the drafting of laws and the control of the government.
Mr.George visited the premises of the Kyrgyz Ombudsman, Mr.Tursunbai Bakir uluu, where he shared experience and discussed questions of similar human rights' defense institutions in Britain, Kyrgyzstan and other countries with the staff of this new institution. On behalf of the Ombudsman he personally asked President Akaev to increase his support of this important institution of democratic control.
At the end of his visit, Mr.George met representatives on NGO's and political parties, who raised their concerns about the development of democracy, human rights and freedom of media in Kyrgyzstan.
Mr.George, who is a Member of the British House of Commons and the Chair of its Defense committee, arrived from Almaty in Kazakhstan, where he had chaired the first Trans-Asian Parliamentary Forum under the title of "The Trans-Asian Dimension of the OSCE: A Vital Security Link" from 7 to 9 June, 2003. On this occasion, he also held talks with parliamentary delegations from Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan.
During his stay in Bishkek, Mr.George had an extensive exchange of views with President Askar Akaev and the Speakers of the two chambers of the Kyrgyz Parliament, Mr. Abdygani Erkebaev and Mr.Altai Borubaev on the topics of constitutional and parliamentary reforms and cooperation between the parliament and government of Kyrgyzstan with the OSCE and in particular, with the Parliamentary Assembly. He emphasized the strong interest of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly in the participation of Central Asian parliamentarians in the work and the gatherings of the Assembly such as the forthcoming annual session in Rotterdam. As an experienced parliamentarian, Mr.George showed special interest in the work of parliamentary committees and the role of the parliament in the drafting of laws and the control of the government.
Mr.George visited the premises of the Kyrgyz Ombudsman, Mr.Tursunbai Bakir uluu, where he shared experience and discussed questions of similar human rights' defense institutions in Britain, Kyrgyzstan and other countries with the staff of this new institution. On behalf of the Ombudsman he personally asked President Akaev to increase his support of this important institution of democratic control.
At the end of his visit, Mr.George met representatives on NGO's and political parties, who raised their concerns about the development of democracy, human rights and freedom of media in Kyrgyzstan.