FM Kazakbaev receives members of CSTO PA observer mission

Bishkek, Jan. 8, 2021. /Kabar/. Minister of Foreign Affairs of Kyrgyzstan Ruslan Kazakbaev met on Friday with members of the observer mission from the Parliamentary Assembly of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO PA).

The delegation of the CSTO PA arrived in Bishkek to monitor the preparation and conduct of the early presidential elections and the referendum to determine the form of government in the Kyrgyz Republic, the press service of the Kyrgyz Foreign Ministry said.

Kazakbaev thanked the international observers for their interest and participation in this key event of the republic.

The foreign minister expressed confidence in the comprehensive and objective assessment of international observers of the elections and the referendum.

Ruslan Kazakbaev noted the Kyrgyz Republic is one of the Central Asian countries that successfully implements the model of electoral process using innovative technologies. The system of voting and transparency of vote counting is being improved in the republic.

In his turn, Coordinator of the CSTO PA mission, Chairman of the Tajik Parliament’s Committee on Law, Order, Defense and Security Rustam Shokhmurod noted international observers plan to meet with presidential candidates and visit polling stations at different stages of voting.

International observers also emphasized the importance of optimizing elections in the CSTO member states, including by opening additional polling stations.

The members of the mission stressed the monitoring group will provide the public with objective information based on the results of the upcoming events.

Touching upon Kyrgyzstan's cooperation within the CSTO, Minister Kazakbaev noted the country actively participates in the work of the Organization, and stressed that the principles of combating contemporary challenges and threats to security require the convergence and harmonization of national legislations of member states. In this context, he pinned great hopes on the effective work of the CSTO Parliamentary Assembly.

The foreign minister said Kyrgyzstan attaches great importance to strengthening interaction within the CSTO Parliamentary Assembly.

In conclusion, Ruslan Kazakbaev thanked the members of the CSTO PA observation mission for their support to the democratic processes taking place in Kyrgyzstan during the difficult transition period.