OSCE Secretary General visits Bishkek to discuss developments in Kyrgyzstan with President

BISHKEK, 3 March 2006 - Beginning a two-day visit to Kyrgyzstan on Friday, OSCE Secretary General, Marc Perrin de Brichambaut, held high-level meetings with Kyrgyz Government and Parliamentary officials.

The discussions focused on the development of the situation in Kyrgyzstan since the July 2005 Presidential election, as well as the Organization's current activities in the country and plans for the future.

"I was pleased to hear that the Kyrgyz authorities highly value the OSCE's support in implementing Constitutional reform, reforming the law enforcement sector, creating favourable conditions for economic growth, as well as fostering inter-ethnic accord and observing the rule of law," said the Secretary General.

On what is his second official trip to the country, the Secretary General met the President of the Kyrgyz Republic, Kurmanbek Bakiev, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Alikbek Djekshenkulov, and the newly elected Speaker of the Parliament, Marat Sultanov.

He also held meetings with representatives of civil society and Ambassadors of the OSCE participating States accredited in Kyrgyzstan.

"As the country approaches the anniversary of last year's March events, the people of Kyrgyzstan as well as international community are expecting vigorous Government action to achieve concrete and tangible results," added the Secretary General.

In further meetings, he will also exchange views with the Minister of Interior Murat Sutalinov on the results of the OSCE's three-year old Police Assistance Programme, a country-wide initiative in support of comprehensive police reform, and visit the new Emergency Call Response Centre, established with the help of this programme.

A visit to the OSCE Academy in Bishkek, a regional postgraduate educational institution, is also on the agenda.