COPENHAGEN, 20 April 2011 – Walburga Habsburg Douglas (Sweden), Chair of the OSCE PA’s General Committee on Democracy, Human Rights and Humanitarian Questions, visited Kyrgyzstan earlier this month to reinforce the good co-operation between Kyrgyzstan and the OSCE PA.

“We need to pay more attention to Kyrgyzstan,” she said. “The OSCE and the EU must maintain focus on the situation in Kyrgyzstan and support the country’s democratic institutions. We must offer Kyrgyzstan all the support it needs to be a successful parliamentary republic in the region.”

The visit to Bishkek took place on 4-6 April 2011, and was combined with an assessment of the political party system for the Swedish Development Agency, which was looking to develop ways to support multi-party democracy in Kyrgyzstan. Ms. Habsburg Douglas was also accompanied by colleagues from the two largest political parties in Sweden.

The delegation was briefed by the OSCE Centre in Bishkek, which provided support for the visit.Ms. Habsburg Douglas met with a range of interlocutors, including President Roza Otunbaeva, the parliamentary factions, the leadership of the parliament, representatives of international organizations including the UN, the National Democratic Institute and the International Republican Institute, as well as with representatives of Bishkek’s vibrant civil society.

In her meetings, Ms. Habsburg Douglas emphasized that in the context of Central Asia, Kyrgyzstan is a logical place to launch co-operative efforts with parties in Europe. With Kyrgyzstan being the only Central Asian country with a multi-party delegation to the OSCE PA, Ms. Habsburg Douglas also highlighted the potential for strengthening the country’s participation in the Assembly.

“There is an obvious window of opportunity to co-operate with this new parliament,” she said. “All political parties, civil society, as well as the President, warmly welcomed closer co-operation and exchange of experience among parliamentarians through the OSCE PA. Political parties, in particular, welcomed greater contacts with their European counterparts.”

On the human rights situation, there is still substantial cause for concern, Ms. Habsburg Douglas said, particularly in the south of the country.

In a meeting with President Otunbaeva, Ms. Habsburg Douglas proposed that the Officers of the PA’s Third Committee visit Bishkek and Osh this summer, a visit which could include a seminar on exchange of parliamentary practices. Ms. Otunbaeva welcomed the proposal.