Kazakhstan’s political party system focus of OSCE-supported seminars

ASTANA, 26 November 2012 – Seminars on political party issues in Kazakhstan supported by the OSCE Centre began today in Astana.

The two seminars held this week in Kazakhstan’s two largest cities, Astana and Almaty, are part of an OSCE Centre in Astana project on enhancing Kazakhstan’s political party system. At the events political party representatives will discuss a range of issues related to Kazakhstan’s party system, including the organizational, financial and public relations-related aspects of party building.

“The enhancement of a country’s political party system serves to advance the growth of civil society and strengthen democratic principles,” said Ambassador Natalia Zarudna, the Head of the OSCE Centre in Astana. “Political parties that are strong, independent and accountable to their constituencies help ensure stability and sound public administration. Parties can help create the conditions necessary for effective representation and citizens’ participation in political life through debate and competition.”

Zauresh Battalova, President of the Public Foundation for Parliamentary Development in Kazakhstan, said: “Citizens exercise their right to participate in governance through their elected representatives. It is therefore very important for all citizens to have a representative parliament and strong, competitive political parties.”

The project, implemented in co-operation with the non-governmental Public Foundation for Parliamentary Development in Kazakhstan and the OSCE’s Warsaw-based Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights, also included a study tour to Poland for political party representatives in September.