Statement by OSCE Chairperson-in-Office on the parliamentary elections in Kyrgyzstan

VIENNA, 15 March 2000 - The OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, Austrian Foreign Minister Benita Ferrero-Waldner, welcomes the peaceful and well-organized conduct of the parliamentary elections in Kyrgyzstan.

However, notwithstanding the fact that these elections were characterized by party pluralism and the active involvement of civil society, the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office is deeply concerned about certain negative tends, which could be detrimental to the democratic development in Kyrgyzstan.

The OSCE Chairperson-in-Office therefore calls on the Kyrgyz authorities to undertake all necessary steps to address complaints and to remove obstacles to full and equal participation by all political forces, in particular with regard to the presidential elections at the end of this year.

Kyrgyzstan has achieved impressive democratic gains since independence in 1991. The OSCE Chairperson-in-Office is convinced that the Kyrgyz authorities will take the opportunity offered by these elections to make further important progress.