Acting Kyrgyz President urges OSCE States to support reform and encourage investment

VIENNA, 30 May 2005 - The acting President of Kyrgyzstan, Kurmanbek Bakiev, urged OSCE countries on Monday to support police and administrative reform in his country and to provide both aid and investment to stimulate economic growth.

Addressing a special OSCE Permanent Council meeting in Vienna, he also called for strict monitoring of the July 10 presidential election to ensure it is free and fair and in line with Kyrgyzstan's OSCE commitments.

"We urge donor states to increase investment and grant-based support, not only to Kyrgyzstan but also to the whole of Central Asia," the acting President said. "Strengthening the regional integration process is the basis for the secure and stable development of all states in the region."

"While security, combating terrorism and the drugs trade and trafficking in human beings, as well as cultural, humanitarian and economic aspects are extremely important, under the current circumstances, the issue of economic development should be on the top of today's agenda of the Kyrgyz Republic."

Mr Bakiev thanked the OSCE, and Chairman-in-Office Dimitrij Rupel in particular, for the support provided to Kyrgyzstan since the dramatic March events which led to the change of government and for the assistance which the Organization is already providing for the presidential election.

He said the international community must be vigilant to ensure that the election is fair, honest and transparent. The government had accepted most of the recommendations made by the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) after the last elections and was committed to working on them.

"The Kyrgyz Republic attaches great importance to co-operation with the OSCE and its objective view. This interaction is the prerequisite for an election free from violations, based upon the principles of fairness, honesty and transparency, in compliance with OSCE standards," the acting President said.

He said a key priority for the next government would be to tackle corruption to allow the economy to flourish.