Parliament Speaker receives Head of OSCE Programme Office in Bishkek

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

The press service of the Parliament of the Kyrgyz Republi reported that during the meeting, the sides discussed issues of strengthening the ties between Kyrgyzstan and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, as well as in the framework of the partnership of the Jogorku Kenesh and the OSCE PA.

Dzhumabekov stressed the importance of expanding the cooperation of Kyrgyzstan with international organizations, in particular with the 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 ongoing 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 promotion of democratic values,” the Speaker noted and reported on the active work of the Jogorku Kenesh in order to develop the country in the field of legislative activity and fulfill the controlling function of parliament.

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

Noting that the Jogorku Kenesh in Kyrgyzstan 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 the ties with the Kyrgyz parliament.

Moreover, issues of cooperation in the framework of the OSCE Academy in Bishkek were discussed.