OSCE Chairperson regrets violence in southern Kyrgyzstan, calls for calm and stability

ASTANA, 11 June 2010 - The OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, Kazakhstan's Secretary of State and Foreign Minister Kanat Saudabayev, today expressed his deep regret at the violent clashes in Kyrgyzstan's southern city of Osh in which a number of people lost their lives and hundreds were wounded.

Saudabayev noted that, from the first days of the political crisis, President Nursultan Nazarbayev and Kazakhstan's OSCE Chairmanship had made every effort to promote a peaceful settlement and supported the Interim Government's steps in this direction.

However, he added, events showed that the current situation in the country remains far from stable.

"I call on all parties to refrain from violence and to resolve the existing problems through dialogue and compromise," Saudabayev said.

The OSCE Chairmanship, the OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities, the OSCE Centre in Bishkek and its Field Office in Osh are ready to continue to help in resolving the current situation in Kyrgyzstan.