28/06/2011 President
Strasbourg, 28.06.2011 – Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu, the President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), has welcomed the “encouraging democratic changes” there have been in Kyrgyzstan in the last year – and offered closer contacts to encourage further change.
Speaking at the end of a two-day visit to the country (27-28 June 2011), during which he met the President, Speaker of Parliament, Prime Minister and other high officials, Mr Çavuşoğlu invited a delegation from the Kyrgyz Parliament to attend PACE’s October session.
He also suggested that the parliament consider applying for “Partner for Democracy” status with the Assembly – which would allow Kyrgyz parliamentarians to speak and propose topics for debate, though without the right to vote. The parliament had already fulfilled some important conditions for this status, he pointed out, such as abolishing the death penalty, and a multi-party composition.
Kyrgyzstan was “on the right track” in the implementation of reforms related to democratic institutions and basic freedoms, the President said. “However, there is still a need to make progress in developing a democratic political culture.” The Assembly would be ready to observe the presidential elections scheduled for October 2011, he said.
Mr Çavuşoğlu welcomed the country’s on-going co-operation with the Council of Europe’s Venice Commission – its group of independent legal experts – and encouraged the authorities to apply for Council of Europe conventions that were open to non-member states.
The PACE President continues on to Almaty tomorrow, where he is due to address the Council of Ministers of the Organisation of the Islamic Conference (OIC). On the fringe of the meeting, he will also hold working meetings with the authorities of Kazakhstan.
Note to editors:
“Partner for Democracy” status enables the parliaments of countries neighbouring the Council of Europe to take part in the work of its Assembly, but without the right to vote. In return, parliaments must declare their commitment to Council of Europe values, undertake to hold free and fair elections and work towards abolishing the death penalty, among other things. The Moroccan Parliament became the first to be granted “Partner for Democracy” status last week. The Palestinian National Council has also applied for this status.