OSCE Centre in Bishkek supports parliament hearing on police reform

BISHKEK, 27 June 2011 – The draft Police Reform Concept for Kyrgyzstan 2011-2015 was debated during an OSCE-supported public hearing in the parliament today.

Members of parliament, representatives of the Interior Ministry and other law enforcement agencies, non-governmental organizations, media and civilian oversight institutions, political parties and international organizations attended the hearing.

Ambassador Andrew Tesoriere, the Head of the OSCE Centre in Bishkek, said: “This meeting was part of a wide national consultative process that should result in a new policing concept. The parliament, through holding such public hearings, can play a pivotal role in the formulation of reforms and oversight of its implementation. Police reform must be an integral part of a comprehensive reform of the criminal justice system.”

Shamil Atakhanov, the Vice Prime Minister of Kyrgyzstan, said: “The government welcomes the initiative of the Interior Ministry and civil society to continue the reform process. This process can succeed only with the co-operation with all other law-enforcement agencies, the government and the parliament. The hearings formed a first step in this complicated work that requires all involved to share expertise, knowledge and administrative skills.”

Roza Aknazarova, the head of the non-governmental organization Parliament of Political Parties and a member of  parliament, added: “It is necessary to analyse the existing legislature on law enforcement issues in order to conduct the reform process efficiently. The Parliament expresses its readiness to support activities on police reform.”