OSCE Chairperson-in-Office expresses concern about recent action against human rights defenders in Kyrgyzstan

VIENNA, 27 July 2000 - The OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, Austrian Foreign Minister Benita Ferrero-Waldner, is worried by reports on the harassment of human rights activists in Kyrgyzstan. The OSCE Chairperson-in-Office reaffirms that a vivid and strong civil society is of crucial importance for continued progress in the process of democratization. During the recent visit of the Chairperson-in-Office to Central Asia, she was assured by the President and political leadership of their commitment to this process.

In particular, the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office is concerned about recent information on harassment of the Kyrgyz Committee for Human Rights. The OSCE Chairperson-in-Office recalls the commitment of Kyrgyzstan as a participating State of the OSCE to `respect the rights of everyone, individually or in association with others, to study and discuss the observance of human rights and fundamental freedoms and to develop and discuss ideas for improved protection of human rights and better means for ensuring compliance with international human rights standards´, as stated in the Document of the Copenhagen Meeting of the CSCE, 1990.

The OSCE Chairperson-in-Office calls on Kyrgyzstan to adhere to the course of democratic reform, in particular with regard to the upcoming presidential elections, and to ensure the environment in which civil society can contribute to efforts for stability and security in the country.

For further information contact the Press and Public Information Section of the OSCE Secretariat, tel.: (+ 43-1) 514 36 180 or e-mail: info@osce.org