OSCE Chairman-in-Office meets Kyrgyz leaders

BISHKEK, 8 July 2002 - The OSCE Chairman-in-Office, Portuguese Foreign Minister Antonio Martins da Cruz, discussed the Organization's co-operation with Kyrgyzstan in talks with the President of the Kyrgyz Republic, Askar Akaev, and other leaders in Bishkek on Monday.

The talks were also attended by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Kyrgyzstan Askar Aitmatov, the Speaker of the Peoples' Representatives' Assembly, Altai Borubaev, and the Deputy Speaker of the Legislative Assembly, B. Hudaybergenov.

The talks focused on the situation in the country and the very well established co-operation between Kyrgyzstan and the OSCE, in particular the Centre in Bishkek and its Head, Ambassador Aydin Idil.

The CiO underlined that this constructive work needs to continue and he thanked the Kyrgyz side for their assistance in organizing the "International Conference on Enhancing Security and Stability in Central Asia", the so-called Bishkek Conference, in December 2001.

With regard to the implementation of the Programme of Action against terrorism, which was adopted at the conference, Minister Martins da Cruz said the participating States of the OSCE are looking into ways of enhancing co-operation in the fields of police training and assistance to the Police Academy in Bishkek, as well as in the OSCE's Economic and Environmental dimension.

Two project proposals in the economic and environmental dimension were discussed - one on the development of small and medium-sized enterprises, the other on mobilizing resources for dealing with the radioactive waste dumps near the town of Maili-Suu, in Jalal-Abad province.

The two sides discussed further potential fields in which OSCE assistance might prove desirable, including in the political and human dimensions, in particular in some fields of legislation.

The idea of establishing an OSCE higher education institution in Kyrgyzstan was discussed. It was referred to a working group headed by the Kyrgyz Minister of Education.

The Kyrgyz officials welcomed the OSCE's engagement in promoting regional co-operation.

In the afternoon, the CiO met representatives of civil society, several non-governmental organizations and the leaders of opposition parties. Among them were representatives of the independent media Res Publica and Moya Stolitsa, the Human Rights Institute, the Human Rights Committee of Kyrgyzstan, the Coalition for Democracy and Civil Society, as well as the leaders of the Ar Namys and Erkindik political parties.