OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities visits Kyrgyzstan
(OSCE)The OSCE's High Commissioner on National Minorities, Rolf Ekeus (left), meets Kyrgyz President Askar Akayev in Bishkek, 14 April 2003. (OSCE) Photo details
BISHKEK, 22 April 2003 - On an official visit to Kyrgyzstan, the OSCE's High Commissioner on National Minorities, Rolf Ekeus, said that in multi-ethnic societies politics should be oriented towards integration rather than towards assimilation or separation of different ethnic groups.
During his four-day visit last week, Mr. Ekeus visited the capital Bishkek and the southern town of Osh.
He met the Kyrgyz President Askar Akayev, the State Secretary, the First Vice Prime Minister, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, the Minister of Education, the Ombudsman, the Governor of the Province of Osh, the Chair and members of the Assembly of the People's Representatives, as well as representatives of minorities living in the country.
The visit gave the High Commissioner the opportunity to inform himself from first hand sources on the relationship between ethnic groups living in Kyrgyzstan, representation of ethnic minorities in law making and law enforcement bodies, the process of legal reform following the adoption of the amended constitution, as well as the question of multilingual education.
Mr. Ekeus also took part in a roundtable in Osh on multilingual education where he presented the role and tasks of his Office. Stressing the need for integration-oriented ethnic politics, he said language could both be an integrating factor and a means to preserve national identity.
"Special attention should be given to the integration of ethnic minorities into law enforcement agencies, as this would ease potential tensions between the major ethnic group and minorities," the High Commissioner said.
During his four-day visit last week, Mr. Ekeus visited the capital Bishkek and the southern town of Osh.
He met the Kyrgyz President Askar Akayev, the State Secretary, the First Vice Prime Minister, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, the Minister of Education, the Ombudsman, the Governor of the Province of Osh, the Chair and members of the Assembly of the People's Representatives, as well as representatives of minorities living in the country.
The visit gave the High Commissioner the opportunity to inform himself from first hand sources on the relationship between ethnic groups living in Kyrgyzstan, representation of ethnic minorities in law making and law enforcement bodies, the process of legal reform following the adoption of the amended constitution, as well as the question of multilingual education.
Mr. Ekeus also took part in a roundtable in Osh on multilingual education where he presented the role and tasks of his Office. Stressing the need for integration-oriented ethnic politics, he said language could both be an integrating factor and a means to preserve national identity.
"Special attention should be given to the integration of ethnic minorities into law enforcement agencies, as this would ease potential tensions between the major ethnic group and minorities," the High Commissioner said.