Text of report by Kyrgyz-Press International News Agency from Kabar Agency web site on 5th October

Bishkek, 5th October: The US Congress is discussing the issue of expelling the five Central Asian countries [Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan] - former Soviet republics - from the OSCE.

According to the subcommittee for Asia and the countries of the Pacific region, not everything is successful with human rights and democracy in these countries.

As regards Kyrgyzstan, the aide to the Kyrgyz president on international issues, Askar Aytmatov, has not denied that the authorities interfered into the voting process during the latest parliamentary elections [in February 2000], as well as other breaches.

All the recommendations by international organizations have been taken into consideration and the country's leadership firmly intends to make the forthcoming presidential elections [on 29th October 2000] democratic and transparent.

"I think suspension of the membership of this or other country in this authoritative international organization can be an efficient method of persuading it to ensure human rights and rapid democratization of society," Aytmatov said.

Source: Kyrgyz-Press International News Agency from Kabar Agency web site, Bishkek, in Russian 1127 gmt 05 Oct 00

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Posted October 11, 2000 © Eurasianet
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