UN Secretary-General addresses OSCE, appeals for restraint in Kyrgyzstan

VIENNA, 8 April 2010 - United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon called for restraint in Kyrgyzstan, and announced that OSCE and UN special envoys would work closely together to facilitate the restoration of constitutional order in the country at a special session of the OSCE Permanent Council in Vienna today.

The OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, Kazakhstan's Secretary of State and Minister of Foreign Affairs Kanat Saudabayev, announced earlier today that he had dispatched his Special Envoy, Zhanybek Karibzhanov, to Bishkek. UN Special Envoy Jan Kubis will also travel to Kyrgyzstan.

"Nothing better illustrates the need for the United Nations and the OSCE to work closely in common cause," said Ban.

Prior to his trip to Vienna, the UN Secretary-General visited Kyrgyzstan as well as Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and Kazakhstan, which holds the 2010 OSCE Chairmanship.

"I am deeply concerned about the violence and shocked by the loss of life which occurred in recent days. I urge restraint; it is time to work urgently on establishing constitutional order," he said.

The UN Secretary-General highlighted the OSCE's role in regional conflict prevention.

"Through the years, the OSCE has shaped our modern world by promoting dialogue, co-operation and human rights. You helped end the Cold War. You have championed human dignity and empowered your citizens," said Ban.

"The bloodshed in Kyrgyzstan is a deeply troubling reminder of the vital importance of addressing such issues. As the Chairperson-in-Office said yesterday, there are political, economic and social issues underlying the unrest."

In his address to the Permanent Council, Ban commended Kazakhstan for its "historic" Chairmanship as the first post-Soviet and Central Asian state to head the Organization.

He underscored the need to intensify co-operation between the UN and the OSCE, and called for deepening practical co-ordination in five areas - disarmament and non-proliferation, securing peace, election assistance, environment and development, and promoting human rights.

"Greater co-ordination and co-operation between the UN and the OSCE is an important goal, but it is not an end in itself. Our success will not be measured in terms of process or mechanisms, but in the difference we make in peoples' lives," he said.

"I look forward to continuing to strengthen ties with the OSCE as a crucial partner in our work for a safer, better future for all."

The Permanent Council is a main decision-making body of the 56-country OSCE. It meets weekly in Vienna to discuss developments in the OSCE area and to make appropriate decisions.