OSCE Centre supports high-level meeting on Kyrgyzstan’s public administration reform

BISHKEK, 30 May 2011 – Parliament Speaker Akhmatbek Keldibekov, parliamentarians, high-level government officials, political party leaders, representatives of civil society and international organizations met today in Bishkek to discuss priorities for public administration reform during a meeting supported by the OSCE Centre in Bishkek.

The meeting was organized by Kyrgyzstan's Parliament and the Parliament of the Political Parties with support of the OSCE Centre in Bishkek, the National Democratic Institute for International Affairs and the International Republican Institute. The Parliament of Political Parties is an OSCE-supported forum for representatives of the parties across the political spectrum that works on matters related to legislation, party development and voter communication.

Lilian Darii, the Deputy Head of the OSCE Centre in Bishkek, highlighted  three key areas of the ongoing reform: judicial, electoral and police reform. "In line with the OSCE Centre’s mandate to assist the authorities in the implementation of Kyrgyzstan's OSCE commitments, we will continue to facilitate meaningful reforms aimed at the promotion of independence of the judiciary, the rule of law, as well as electoral and police reform," he said. 

Parliament Speaker Akhmatbek Keldibekov added: “Political forces should become a bridge between the authorities and the people of Kyrgyzstan. The implementation of the reforms should take the people’s opinion into account. Only joint efforts will lead us to success. Today's event provides information necessary for all participants' continued work on the development of partnerships with the Parliament.”

The event was part of the OSCE Centre’s efforts to establish a platform for inclusive political dialogue among Kyrgyzstan’s parties in order to promote pluralistic debate and consensus-building on the most pressing issues.