Text of report by the Kyrgyz news agency Kabar on 22nd February

Bishkek, 22nd February: "The elections held in Kyrgyzstan [on 20th February]
have demonstrated new standards of Kyrgyz democracy - its maturity," the
press secretary of the Kyrgyz president, Osmonakun Ibraimov, has said at a
briefing at the Kabar news agency. As evidence tthis, he pointed out that
the elections in Kyrgyzstan have been held in line with international
standards, in particular, three main conditions have been met: free
nomination of candidates, the opportunity to choose them freely by the
electorate and the fair counting of votes. In assessing the general process
of the present parliamentary elections, he pointed out their acute nature
was evidenced by the fact that more than 90 pre cent of the future deputies
will be elected in the second round of the elections, during which
"passions will be even more heated".

The press secretary has expressed his opinion and forecasts about the future
parliament. He said that 60 to 70 per cent of members of the new Supreme
Council [parliament] would be centrist. There would also be followers of an
ultra-right tendency and representatives of the opposition. Although,
according to Ibraimov, this would be a "mixed parliament",
constructiveness, pluralism of opinions and other more democratic features
would differentiate the new parliament from the previous one. As regards
the moratorium imposed by President Askar Akayev on legal actions against
individual candidates for parliamentary seats during the election period,
Ibraimov said that it would be lifted as soon as the results of the second
round of elections had been announced.

Source: Kabar news agency, Bishkek, in Russian 1555 gmt 22 Feb 00
BBC Mon CAU 220200/** GAR/MK