Kyrgyz President Askar Akayev has called on everybody involved in the
forthcoming parliamentary elections to make sure that the elections are
free and fair. At a meeting with electoral, local and law-enforcement
officials and journalists on 8th February, Akayev said the election
regulations had been breached both by officials and candidates, and
law-enforcement agencies had been slow to react. He said the reason why
some parties had been barred from the elections was that they lacked
experience and were "sluggish", and that was "a lesson for the future". He
said it was important for the country's image that international democratic
norms were "strictly observed" during the elections scheduled for 20th
February. The following are excerpts from a report by Kyrgyz radio:
  
[presenter] Heads of law-enforcement agencies, governors, heads of district
administrations, CEC [Central Electoral Commission] officials, journalists
and representatives of international organizations accredited in Kyrgyzstan
met today at the Small Hall of the government house. They discussed
preparations for the forthcoming parliamentary elections. Kyrgyz President
Askar Akayev attended the meeting. He said the following in his speech:

[Akayev] Dear heads of law-enforcement agencies, dear heads of local
administrations, dear journalists. We are meeting at an extremely important
moment for Kyrgyzstan. The entire country is preparing for the elections to
parliament, the Supreme Council. Our young democracy has to pass this very
serious test for maturity and for adherence to generally accepted
principles [of democracy] by holding fair and honest elections. We must
show to the whole world and, above all, to ourselves, by our concrete
actions at all levels of state power that the process of democratic
development in Kyrgyzstan is irreversible and that we intend strictly to
adhere to our corresponding international commitments.

I said this in my November address [to the nation] last year in connection
with the forthcoming parliamentary elections. I want to repeat today that
international norms and standards must be strictly observed during these
elections. We must do everything we can and take every necessary measure to
this end. As the country's president, I put our electoral commissions,
local administrations and law-enforcement agencies in charge of this issue.
Constitutional norms and the election code must be very strictly observed
in Kyrgyzstan. This is a question of principle for us. We must follow the
international norms and standards laid down in the OSCE documents on the
human dimension, in the international convention on civil and political
rights and other conventions which we have joined.

The world community, international organizations and those who are concerned
[word indistinct] democracy in Kyrgyzstan are following the election
process very carefully. Yesterday I received a personal message from the US
vice-president, Albert Gore. He said he supported free and fair elections
in our country. At the same time he said he hoped that we would solve
positively the problems which were arising during the election campaign.
This concerns above all [words indistinct] in society and international
organizations are noting the cases of bringing charges against [word
indistinct] candidates for parliament. Here we have encountered the usual
problem of delaying the investigation of such cases. Unfortunately, they
have coincided with the start of the election campaign [word indistinct].

Our law-enforcement agencies should be reproached for this. Bureaucratic
hurdles have slowed down the investigation of these cases and this has had
its negative effect and might discredit the principle of free elections. At
the same time, we have encountered a paradoxical situation - (?on the one
hand) society strives for the supremacy of the law and on the other hand
there are calls for putting aside this principle for a while because of the
current situation, which we cannot accept. I have instructed our
law-enforcement agencies to investigate carefully again the legality of
penalizing specific people.

Dear participants of the meeting! The forthcoming parliamentary elections
have one important feature. These are the first elections to be held on
party lists. The present constitution has laid down the foundation for the
creation of a multiparity system in Kyrgyzstan. However, because of
different problems, which came up in the run-up to the elections - parties
were inexperienced and, strickly speaking, sluggish, - only 15 out of
almost 30 officially registered parties have been in accordance with the
law allowed to stand in the elections. I deeply regret this. Let it be a
lesson for the future for all of us.

Now I want to draw your attention to the numerous accusations and complaints
over various infringements of the law in the run-up to the elections being
made both by the organizers [of the elections], candidates and their
supporters, executive power officials and other participants of the
electoral process. These violations are mostly of a bureaucratic nature and
a result of someone's subjectivity, and sometimes these are technical
breaches.

Very often a candidate cannot meet voters because of the irresponsibility of
local officials and their unwillingness to help. Some candidates had
problems with registration because of various bureaucratic hurdles. I have
also heard that various officials, both here and in regions, are widely
using the practice of arm-twisting to exert pressure on voters and
electoral commissions. I also know that some (?heads) of districts are
trying to [word indistinct] candidates [word indistinct], both suitable and
unsuitable candidates, openly referring to the central government and the
presidential administration in doing so. There have been cases when
officials hampered meetings between some candidates and voters and
interfered in the activities of electoral commissions. [words indistinct]
(?I demand) that the governors who are present here today resolutely stop
such activities [word indistinct].

There are some candidates who introduce themselves as White House [Kyrgyz
government house] representatives. The White House has not given its
blessing to anyone [word indistinct]. Let it remain in (?history). [few
words indistinct]

There is a worrying problem of the legal protection of the rights of
citizens, both the electorate and candidates. We must not lose people's
confidence in courts, the prosecutor's office and executive power because
of the existing shortcomings. Therefore, I call on the prosecutor general
to take urgent measures on the cases of violations of citizens' electoral
rights.

Dear participants in the meeting! We must try to make sure that these
elections are transparent and open for monitoring both by local and
international observers. I will remind you, dear governors, that any
attempts to hinder the work of observers or prevent them from carrying out
their duty are inadmissible.

I appeal to you, dear journalists. Your role is extremely important for
carrying out democratic elections. To a great extent, you are to make sure
that the election process is discussed objectively and in detail [word
indistinct]. We will not allow any moves by state bodies which may restrict
the freedom of press - which is one of the basic democratic achievements
and there cannot be any going back.

I would like to say a few words about international observers in Kyrgyzstan.
I have considered [word indistinct] the forthcoming elections, the world
community's backing of our efforts to build a civil society and strengthen
democratic institutions, and support citizens' free choice at the
forthcoming elections. I am asking the government and heads of local
administrations to create all the necessary conditions for their normal
work. On my part, I have already instructed our consulates abroad to give
to international observers Kyrgyz entry visas at their first request and
free of charge.

Dear participants in the meeting! It is extremely important for Kyrgyzstan's
democratic image that our elections receive a positive international
assessment and backing. However, the main thing for us is the understanding
of the fact that we, the people of Kyrgyzstan, have chosen the genuine path
of democratic development. This is, above all, important for ourselves, for
our country's future and for our future generations. Let us be up to the
standards in order to achieve these aims.
In conclusion, I call on you all to do everything to make the forthcoming
elections the triumph of democracy and the real proof of our adherence to
the ideals of freedom and justice.
Thank you for your attention.

[presenter] Then the CEC chairman, Sulayman Imanbayev, delivered a report.
[passage omitted: local electoral commission are drawing up lists of voters]
 
According to Imanbayev, a total of 601 candidates were initially nominated
from all single-seat districts, and 154 candidates were nominated by 10
political parties and two electoral blocs. Following the consideration of
their papers - not all candidates submitted all the documents required for
registration - the following number of candidates have been registered:
A total of 420 candidates have been included (?in ballot papers) to run in
single-seat electoral districts. The largest number of candidates is in Osh
Region - 105 candidates have been registered there. A total of 83
candidates have been registered in Chuy Region, 78 - in Bishkek, 77 - in
Dzhalal-Abad Region and 50, 60 and 40 candidates for parliament were
registered in three other Regions.

A total of 222 candidates are standing for the Legislative Assembly, and 198
- for the Assembly of People's Representatives. Out of these 384 are men
and 36 are women.

By ethnic origin, the candidates are divided into the following groups:
there are 354 Kyrgyzs, 25 Uzbeks, 24 Russians and 21 people belonging to
other ethnic groups.

[passage to end omitted: summary of the meeting]
Source: Kyrgyz Radio first programme, Bishkek, in Russian 1400 gmt 08 Feb 00
BBC Mon CAU 090200/** BB/MK