OSCE-supported conference on local self-governance in Kyrgyzstan highlights importance of complementing political decentralization with fiscal restructuring

BISHKEK, 28 January 2011 – The need to complement political decentralization with fiscal decentralization was highlighted at an OSCE-supported conference on local self-governance in Kyrgyzstan today.

The results of a survey on the performance of local self-governance bodies in the south of Kyrgyzstan, commissioned by the OSCE Centre in Bishkek, were presented at the conference, which was organized jointly by the National Agency for Local Self-Governance and the OSCE.

“Local self-governance bodies are a key element in the social and political life of Kyrgyzstan, as they are responsible for securing the livelihood of the population”, said Lilian Darii, the Deputy Head of the OSCE Centre in Bishkek, at the conference, adding: “These bodies play an important role in helping to prevent conflicts over resources. For this they need to be provided with appropriate training and sufficient fiscal means.”

Bahtiarjan Fattahov, the Director of the National Agency for Local Self-Governance in Kyrgyzstan, said: “Only strong local self-government would be capable of improving the quality of municipal service for people in cities and villages. Participants of this conference have demonstrated their willingness to find the best ways for future development through discussion.”

One of the key topics discussed at the conference was the direction of further reforms of local self-governance structures. To this end, participants highlighted the need to complement political decentralization in Kyrgyzstan with fiscal decentralization, thus enabling local self-governance bodies to fulfill the increasing tasks they receive as part of the state administrative structure.

The conference marks the start of an important programme of the OSCE Centre in Bishkek to build the capacity of local self-governance bodies, particularly in the south of the country.