Possible expansion of OSCE project portfolio in Kyrgyzstan discussed

Bishkek, June 4, 2021 . / Kabar / . Kyrgyzstan’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Ruslan Kazakbaev met on Friday with newly appointed Head of the OSCE Programme Office in Bishkek Alexey Rogov. The press service of the Kyrgyz Foreign Ministry reported that during the meeting, a constructive exchange of views regarding the further development of cooperation of the Kyrgyz Republic with the OSCE took place. "In particular, the sides discussed issues of possible expansion of the OSCE project portfolio in Kyrgyzstan in the field of improving the judicial system, the fight against corruption, the green and digital economy, the environment, the electoral process and others," the report said. Ruslan Kazakbaev also briefed his interlocutor on the internal political situation in Kyrgyzstan, informed about the large-scale reforms conducted in the country and the revision of legal acts after the adoption of the new Constitution. In addition, the minister noted the role of OSCE support in the development of democratic institutions and fair and transparent elections in the Kyrgyz Republic. Along with this, he expressed the hope for further fruitful interaction in the upcoming repeat elections to a number of city councils in July and to the parliament of the Kyrgyz Republic in the autumn of 2020. In turn, Rogov assured the OSCE Programme Office in Bishkek intends to continue to support the Kyrgyz side on a wide range of issues, including assistance in the revision of legislative acts and the development of new comprehensive approaches to combat corruption. The meeting also included a discussion of the events on the Kyrgyz-Tajik border at the end of April this year. A request was made to consider the possibility of implementing peace building and confidence building projects between the population of the border areas of the two countries.