EurasiaNet Eurasia Insight - US Embassy Shares OSCE Concern Over Irregularities In Kyrgyz Referendum

EURASIA INSIGHT

US EMBASSY SHARES OSCE CONCERN OVER IRREGULARITIES IN KYRGYZ REFERENDUM
10/25/07
A EurasiaNet Partner Post from BBC Monitoring

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Text of report by Russian state news agency ITAR-TASS

Bishkek, 23 October: The referendum held in Kyrgyzstan on a new draft constitution "did not comply with the international standards to which Kyrgyzstan has committed itself ", a statement circulated by the US embassy in Bishkek today says.

The statement says that the USA pointed to "a limited progress" demonstrated by the country in holding the referendum. It notes the fact that the Central Electoral Commission [CEC] prepared the polling stations and necessary materials, and local observers "were allowed to monitor the process of voting". "However, we share the concerns of the OSCE over reports about violations, including credible reports about ballot-stuffing and overstated data on the number of votes," the statement says.

In view of this, the United States has urged Kyrgyzstan to move towards "greater democracy for the citizens of the country" and specifically stressed the need for improving preparations for the forthcoming parliamentary election" and setting the date for the early election in a timely manner.

Data from the Kyrgyz CEC says that over 80 per cent of voters participated in the vote, and three fourth of them supported the new edition of the constitution proposed by President Kurmanbek Bakiyev.

Editor�s Note: Source: ITAR-TASS news agency, Moscow, in Russian 0813 gmt 23 Oct 07

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