23/01/2008 Session
Strasbourg, 23.01.2008 - Progress in the Central Asian states is barely perceptible where respect for human rights and rule of law are concerned. To guard against the genuine risk of social explosion and political collapse in these states, far-reaching reforms are necessary according to Murat Mercan (, EPP/CD), rapporteur for the PACE Political Affairs Committee.
In accordance with these proposals, the Assembly today adopted a text calling upon member states to establish dialogue with the authorities of Central Asian countries - Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan (Kazakhstan is dealt with in a separate report) in order to promote these changes towards good governance, political liberalisation and institutional modernisation. The Council of Europe, which accompanied the former republics of the in their transformation, could for one thing give the benefit of its expertise in the field of democratic transition.