From: Elina Karakulova (ekarakulova@sorosny.org)
Date: Wed Jul 23 2003 - 13:43:06 EDT
KAZAKHSTAN REPORTS TO EU ON DEMOCRATIZATION PROGRESS AS FOREIGN MINISTRY SAYS KAZAKHSTAN MEETS U.S. REQUIREMENTS ON HUMAN RIGHTS
The Commission for Cooperation Between the European Union and Kazakhstan met in Brussels on 22 July to discuss Kazakhstan's progress in democratization, the rule of law, and the implementation of international human rights standards, RIA-Novosti reported. Human Rights Watch (HRW) had appealed to the EU on 21 July to insist that Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan, which reported the same day, be pressured to accelerate their progress in these areas. The commission issued a communique stating that Kazakhstan, which aspires to the OSCE chairmanship in 2009, needs to put greater effort into the process of democratization, particularly in ensuring free and fair elections, freedom of the media and public organizations, and the independence of the judiciary. The EU also urged Kazakhstan to ratify the International Covenants on Civil and Political Rights and Economic and Social Rights and to institute a moratorium on application of the death penalty. The commission called upon the country to improve its investment climate. BB
Kazakhstan's Foreign Ministry issued a press release on 22 July asserting that the country meets U.S. congressional requirements in the areas of democracy and human rights, so the U.S. administration need not curtail financial aid, gazeta.kz and Interfax-Kazakhstan reported. Kazakhstan found itself on a list of recipient countries suspected of committing gross violations of human rights. Such countries were given until 15 July to improve their implementation of international human rights standards in order to continue receiving U.S. assistance. The ministry said that the U.S. State Department has certified Kazakhstan's performance in a letter to the congressional appropriations committees. BB
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