OSCE roundtable meeting in Almaty focuses on electoral reform in Kazakhstan
(OSCE/Peter Felch)Head of the OSCE Centre in Almaty Ivar Vikki (right) meets the Chairman of Central Election Commission of Kazakhstan, Onalsyn Zhumabekov, Astana, 8 February 2006. (OSCE/Peter Felch) Photo details
ALMATY, 19 May 2006 - Experts from the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR), politicians and representatives of civil society gathered today in Almaty for a roundtable discussion aimed at bringing electoral processes in Kazakhstan into line with the OSCE commitments and other international standards.
The event was organized by Kazakhstan's Central Election Commission together with the OSCE Centre in Almaty.
The main topic of the meeting, which gathered deputies of Parliament, representatives of the government, political parties, non-governmental organizations and regional election administrators, was the electoral reform process, both in legislation and practice. Participants also discussed the role of political parties in the electoral processes and the rights of local observers.
"The will of the people, freely and fairly expressed through periodic and genuine elections, remains the basis of the authority and legitimacy of all government," said Ambassador Ivar Vikki, the Head of the Centre.
"The OSCE stands ready to provide assistance to the Kazakhstani authorities in their efforts to further improve the election legislation and establish a process of democratic elections which enjoys public trust and confidence."
Election experts agreed at the meeting that the country needs to proceed further with the improvement of election legislation, including on the composition of electoral commissions and candidacy rights.
Participants from ODIHR noted that a number of recommendations made by the OSCE 2004 Assessment of the Constitutional Law on Election, as well as Final Reports on the last parliamentary and presidential elections, still need to be addressed by the legislators.
A set of recommendations developed as a result of today's roundtable will be forwarded to the relevant state authorities and deputies of the parliament. It is expected that the process will continue with a series of similar workshops later this year.
The event was organized by Kazakhstan's Central Election Commission together with the OSCE Centre in Almaty.
The main topic of the meeting, which gathered deputies of Parliament, representatives of the government, political parties, non-governmental organizations and regional election administrators, was the electoral reform process, both in legislation and practice. Participants also discussed the role of political parties in the electoral processes and the rights of local observers.
"The will of the people, freely and fairly expressed through periodic and genuine elections, remains the basis of the authority and legitimacy of all government," said Ambassador Ivar Vikki, the Head of the Centre.
"The OSCE stands ready to provide assistance to the Kazakhstani authorities in their efforts to further improve the election legislation and establish a process of democratic elections which enjoys public trust and confidence."
Election experts agreed at the meeting that the country needs to proceed further with the improvement of election legislation, including on the composition of electoral commissions and candidacy rights.
Participants from ODIHR noted that a number of recommendations made by the OSCE 2004 Assessment of the Constitutional Law on Election, as well as Final Reports on the last parliamentary and presidential elections, still need to be addressed by the legislators.
A set of recommendations developed as a result of today's roundtable will be forwarded to the relevant state authorities and deputies of the parliament. It is expected that the process will continue with a series of similar workshops later this year.