Parliament Speaker receives Head of OSCE Programme Office in Bishkek

Bishkek, Feb. 6, 2019. / Kabar /. Speaker of the Jogorku Kenesh of the Kyrgyz Republic Dastanbek Dzhumabekov received on Tuesday Head of the Programme Office of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) in Bishkek, Pierre von Arx, the press service of the Jogorku Kenesh reported.

During the meetings, the sides discussed the issues of strengthening the ties between Kyrgyzstan and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, as well as within the framework of the agreement of the Jogorku Kenesh and the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly.

Speaker Dzhumabekov stressed the importance of expanding cooperation of Kyrgyzstan with international organizations, in particular with OSCE. "For Kyrgyzstan, which has chosen parliamentary democracy, the experience of countries that have achieved great results in this area is extremely important. There is also an urgent need to establish the rule of law and protect human rights in partnership with the OSCE.

The speaker, briefly talking about reforms in Kyrgyzstan, reported on ongoing work in the field of gender equality, strengthening civil society, improving the electoral system, supporting people with disabilities, etc.

“Our main goal is the development of parliamentarism within the framework of the promotion of democratic values,” said the Speaker.

Pierre von Arx, head of the OSCE Program Office in Bishkek, in turn, noted that Kyrgyzstan is one of the countries in Central Asia, which is committed to democratic values. “It is extremely valuable there is a high role of civil society in Kyrgyzstan, a multiparty system, openness and transparency of the parliament,” he said.

Noting that in Kyrgyzstan, the Jogorku Kenesh pays great attention to cooperation with the OSCE PA, Pierre von Arx recalled the successful meeting of the OSCE PA in Bishkek in October last year. Pierre von Arx, expressing interest in cooperation in all areas of interest to the parties, stressed the need to expand ties with the Kyrgyz parliament.

Also the sides discussed the issues of cooperation in the framework of the OSCE Academy in Bishkek.