OSCE Special Envoy meets Kyrgyz provisional leader, Head of Security Service, Interior Minister, says public confidence, dialogue vital for stability

BISHKEK, 10 April 2010 - Building confidence among the people of Kyrgyzstan in the new political environment is crucial for restoring stability in the country, said the Special Envoy of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office Zhanybek Karibzhanov in meetings with Roza Otunbayeva, the leader of the interim administration on Friday evening, and with the acting Head of the National Security Service and the acting Interior Minister this morning.

During the meeting with Otunbayeva, he discussed ways of working together to overcome the consequences of the crisis.

"Safeguarding human lives and rebuilding trust among the people are vital for restoring law and order. The OSCE stands ready to support this process. At the request of the interim administration, we are already providing through the OSCE Centre in Bishkek concrete assistance to meet the urgent needs of citizen patrols in Kyrgyzstan, which help to keep public order and ensure the inviolability of property."

The Special Envoy spoke with Otunbayeva about the co-ordination of activities on the ground with all key domestic and international players: "We will only be able to decide on further steps that we could undertake once we get a comprehensive picture of the situation in the country. We are planning to discuss it with all parties involved, as well as with the UN Special Envoy and the EU Special Representative for Central Asia arriving in Kyrgyzstan shortly."

He supported the need for dialogue between the parties. "Every conflict situation has two sides, and unless these sides make steps towards each other, no third party can successfully resolve it," said Karibzhanov, speaking to the media after the meeting with Otunbayeva.

In meetings with the acting Head of the National Security Service Keneshbek Duishebayev and with the acting Interior Minister Bolot Sherniyazov, the Special Envoy discussed the measures taken so far. "We welcome the steps made to restore public order and reassure people, and hope for the further normalization of the situation throughout the country," he said.

Offering condolences to the bereaved over their losses, he said: "We stand with the people of Kyrgyzstan on this day of nationwide mourning. During these events, we have seen the violation of the greatest inalienable human right - the right to life, and this is what makes it a real tragedy. We have to work together to prevent this tragedy from happening again."

Karibzhanov is Deputy Speaker of the Majilis of Kazakhstan. He arrived to Kyrgyzstan on 8 April - the same day he was appointed Special Envoy by the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office. Ambassador Herbert Salber, the Director of the OSCE Conflict Prevention Centre, is supporting his trip to Kyrgyzstan.