President of the Kyrgyz Republic calls for urgent action against terrorism

VIENNA, 20 September 2001 (OSCE) - In an address to the Permanent Council of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe yesterday, the President of the Kyrgyz Republic, Mr. Askar Akaev, expressed his profound sense of shock at the tragic events that struck the United States last week. "The Kyrgyz people were deeply shaken at the news of this monstrous atrocity, which has resulted in the death and suffering of thousands of innocent persons", he said, adding: "There can be no pardon, neither under the laws of man nor under the laws of God, for those who are guilty of this dreadful and inhumane crime. This barbarous act of terrorism is nothing other than a declaration of an all-out war on the entire civilized world by the dark forces of international terrorism, for whom there can be neither a nationality nor a religion."

Recalling that his country was also struck by terrorism in 1999 and 2000, Mr. Akaev expressed his sincere condolences to the entire American People, on behalf of the people of Kyrgyzstan, and called for the most urgent effective and co-ordinated actions at the national, regional and international levels to combat terrorism.

"The problem of international terrorism must become priority number one in the work of the OSCE", he said.

Addressing the issue of security in the Central Asian region, President Akaev stressed that it should be a focus of special attention.

"Today, the maintenance of security has become an imperative for the Central Asian region at a time of growing threats by international terrorism, religious and political extremism, organized crime and drug trafficking, all of which are displaying a dangerous tendency to coalesce." President Akaev stressed the importance of the decision adopted at the recent summit meeting of the Shanghai Co-operation Organization to set up an anti-terrorist centre to prevent and combat international terrorism. He underlined that the Permanent Operational Group of the Collective Rapid Reaction Forces, set up within the framework of the Treaty on Collective Security of the CIS Countries, has begun operations in the capital of Kyrgyzstan, and called for the OSCE to foster its assistance to Kyrgyzstan in countering the threats. "This would constitute a substantial contribution by the Organization to the strengthening of regional security", he said reminding that at the Kyrgyz initiative and under the auspices of the OSCE, the Bishkek Conference, planned to be held at the end of the year, will deal with the problems of combating extremism and terrorism.

Praising the partnership between Kyrgyzstan and the OSCE, President Akaev, invited the Organization to develop its programmes in the fields of economic development of the region, equitable use and distribution of water resources, and protection of the environment.

President Akaev renewed his continuous commitment and affirmation of democracy, the rule of law and the protection of human rights.

"The cornerstone of the domestic policy of our country is based on ensuring the rights of national minorities and on upholding inter-ethnic harmony and interreligious tolerance", he said.

President Akaev announced a series of measures aimed at further deepening the processes underlying the building of democratic institutions. These measures are related to the judiciary, the strenghtening of the social harmony between the authorities and the civil society, and the reform of the present prison system. President Akaev announced that, in the coming days, a decree will transfer the prison establishments from the Ministry of Internal Affairs to a structural department of the Kyrgyz Ministry of Justice.

"Kyrgyzstan has embarked on a new stage in its democratic development. The first critical segment of the path from a totalitarian past to a democratic future is behind us", concluded President Akaev.

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