OSCE Centre organizes meeting that reviews electoral reform in Kyrgyzstan

BISHKEK, 23 June 2006 - Kyrgyzstan has made some progress towards meeting OSCE election commitments during presidential and local elections in 2005 and parliamentary by-elections in 2006. However, the country's authorities still need to improve its electoral laws and carry out other reforms, participants in a meeting organized by the OSCE Centre in Bishkek, the Kyrgyz Central Election Commission and the UNDP agreed.

Participants in the two-day meeting, which started today, said needed reforms included creating a well-functioning system to update voter-lists, promoting the representation of women, supporting the development of political parties and strengthening the role of domestic observers.

"Last year all of us in Kyrgyzstan were witnesses to the consequences that can be brought about by the lack of fairness and transparency during elections and non-observation of basic democratic principles in the election sphere," said Ambassador Markus Muller, Head of the OSCE Centre in Bishkek.

The meeting's participants, including Kyrgyz authorities, representatives of civil society, central elections commission of the CIS countries, international organizations and diplomats, are expected to adopt recommendations for Kyrgyz election reforms tomorrow.