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Parlement Europeen EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT DELEGATION TO THE EU-KAZAKHSTAN, EU-KYRGYZSTAN AND EU-UZBEKISTAN PARLIAMENTARY COOPERATION COMMITTEES AND FOR RELATIONS WITH TAJIKISTAN, TURKMENISTAN AND MONGOLIA Report by Mrs Ona JUKNEVICIENE, Chair of the delegation, for the Committee on Foreign Affairs and for the Development Committee on the work of the Fact-Finding Mission to Kyrgyzstan Bishkek-Osh, 17 - 20 May 2005 _________________ __________________ Brussels, 25 May 2005 TB-nal EPADES\DELE\DCAS\CR\568519EN PE 358.816 Introduction Following authorisation from the Conference of Presidents on 14 April 2005, the European Parliament delegation travelled to Kyrgyzstan on a fact-finding mission in order to assess the situation in the light of the events of March 2005, when President Akayev was removed from power and replaced by a government headed by Mr Kurmanbek Bakiyev. Mrs Ona JUKNEVICIENE (ALDE, Lithuania) headed the delegation which was included Mr Jas GAWRONSKI (EPP-ED, Italy), Mr Martin CALLANAN, (EPP-ED, United Kingdom), Mr Peter OLAJOS (EPP-ED, Hungary) and Mr Aloyz PETERLE (EPP-ED, Slovenia). The delegation held meetings in the capital Bishkek and the major southern city of Osh where the disturbances that led to the regime change had started. At all meetings the delegation stressed the support of the European Parliament for the process of democratisation in Kyrgyzstan and stressed that the stability of the country would be strengthened by full respect for human rights. They noted that there was considerable freedom of expression and that people were prepared to speak openly. The members referred in particular to the European Parliament resolution of 12 May 2005 which - inter alia - gave support to "the current democratic transition in Kyrgyzstan, the effective exercise of freedoms – especially fundamental rights, freedom of expression, freedom to oppose the regime and press freedom – and genuine, transparent elections". It praised "the efforts made by civil society in Kyrgyzstan in response to years of oppression......(and) argued that "a proper democratic process in Kyrgyzstan could provide an excellent example for the other Central Asian countries". Following the visit, the members concluded that the European Parliament should send observers to the Kyrgyzstan presidential elections that are scheduled for 10 July 2005. This view was endorsed at an extraordinary meeting of the delegation on 24 May 2005. 17 May 1600-1700hrs Meeting with Roza OTUNBAYEVA, Acting Foreign Affairs Minister, Bishkek Ministry of Foreign Affairs Mrs OTUNBAYEVA welcomed the delegation and noted that the EU had helped Kyrgyzstan to build democracy in the country, which was at present at a turning point in its history. She was confident that it would follow the democratic path and introduce the necessary market reforms. Nevertheless she underlined the many problems that it faced, particularly the low standards of living and the endemic corruption. However she believed that it had great democratic potential and that the problems would be overcome. She hoped that observers from the European Parliament would be present at the elections of 10 July, which would be a test for Kyrgyz democracy. The OSCE/ODIHR would be supporting the Kyrgyz authorities to ensure that the elections were free and fair. Mrs Otunbayeva noted that much evidence of corruption associated to the former regime had been uncovered. The Kyrgyz authorities were collaborating with the OSCE on the reform of the militia and she hoped that the army could cooperate with NATO. Mrs JUKNEVICIENE stated that it was intended that the 2/16 European Parliament would indeed send observers to the elections. She also expressed the hope that the interparliamentary links between the Parliamentary Cooperation Committee would be resumed as soon as possible. Regarding the situation in Uzbekistan, the Foreign Minister noted that the Kyrgyz authorities, together with international organisations, were providing assistance to the refugees. The situation was sensitive and to date the Kyrgyz authorities had not made any official comments to their Uzbek counterparts on developments. She noted that there had been problems over the borders between the two countries and that the populations were ethnically mixed. In response to a question from Mr CALLANAN, Mrs Otunbayeva underlined her country's warm relations with Kazakhstan. 17 May 2005 1700-1800hrs Mr Kurmanbek BAKIYEV, acting President White House, Bishkek Mr BAKIYEV gave details of the agreement that he had reached with Mr Feliks Kulov. According to this agreement Mr Kulov would withdraw from the 10 July presidential elections in exchange for the post of prime minister with enlarged powers in a possible Bakiyev government. The accord had been struck to promote the unity of Kyrgyzstan and support political stability. At present, he stressed, the situation was very calm. Mr Bakiyev wanted the elections to provide a genuine choice for the Kyrgyz people and he promised that administrative resources would not be used to support the incumbent government. He welcomed the prospect of observers from the European Parliament attending the elections. In response to Mr CALLANAN he argued that former President Akayev had tolerated a high level of corruption and that the presidential circles had not been interested in economic progress. In addition the former president had isolated himself from the people. The acting President underlined the importance of building a fully functioning market economy and he stressed the need for investment and mobilising private finance. It was also important to use the human resources of the Kyrgyz people to the full. He pointed to the significance of the energy, gold mining, hydroelectric, farming and tourism sectors. In response to questions from Mrs JUKNEVICIENE and Mr CALLANAN, Mr Bakiyev emphasised the need to fight drug trafficking and organised crime. The former authorities, he argued, had not taken concrete action to deal with these problems and their response had been confined to empty rhetoric. Regarding the situation in Uzbekistan, Mr Bakiyev stressed that his government was fully prepared to provide support for refugees and that they would be enable to return when the situation stabilised. Replying to Mr GAWRONSKI, he underlined the need for Kyrgyzstan to have close relations with its immediate neighbours and noted that his government was seeking to address unresolved areas of difference. It was also developing relations with Russia, the USA and the EU and it did not want to differentiate between these three. He stressed that Kyrgyzstan had experienced 70 years of a common state with Russia and that there were many links and it would remain a key strategic partner. 3/16 Mrs JUKNEVICIENE expressed her support for the Bakiyev-Kulov agreement and underlined the need for the elections to meet the necessary international standards. She looked forward to the next Parliamentary Cooperation Committee taking place as soon as possible. 17 May 2005 2000-2200hrs Working dinner with Mr Feliks KULOV, leader of the Ar-Namys party Hyatt Regency Hotel, Bishkek Mr Kulov is the leader of the Ar-Namys party and had been imprisoned (since 2000) during the rule of former President Akayev. He expressed his gratitude to the European Parliament, which had called for his release in a resolution of 23 October 2003. Mr Kulov outlined his perspective of the deal that he had struck with Mr Bakiyev. He recognised that there was potential for conflict between the two politicians and he would seek to reach compromise when necessary as he was conscious of the dangers of a confrontation. He noted that he came from the north and Mr Bakiyev came from the south and that this regional divide could be a source of tension. He had warned Mr Bakiyev that the people would not be prepared to accept a fraudulent election. He cautioned that, with roughly 33,000 electors in each of the 75 constituencies, a low turnout would result in people voting for their relatives. It was important that political parties existed as these were the only means of uniting people across regional, ethnic and family divides. He accepted that in the past he had been a Minister and Vice President in the government of Mr Akayev but argued that this had enabled him to observe at close hand the shortcomings of the former President. The situation would have been different if developed political parties had existed, however in Kyrgyzstan politics was mainly driven by personalities. He believed that Mr Akayev had been wrong to leave the country and he wanted him to return from exile. However it would be very difficult for the former President to rehabilitate himself as many people considered that his sudden departure had not been the "manly" course of action. There had been no need for him to go into exile, as nobody would have touched him. Mr Kulov noted that it had been alleged that 72 companies had some links to Mr Akayev, however he considered that this was probably exaggerated. Nonetheless he believed that people in the circles close to Mr Akayev had enriched themselves. Turning to the situation in Uzbekistan he stated in the past he had respected Mr Karimov for standing up to Islamic extremism, however the methods that he had applied in the last week could not be justified. Mr Kulov warned that the situation would become more violent and it was essential that Kyrgyzstan kept out of the conflict. He did not consider that the situation was similar to what had occurred in Kyrgyzstan, Ukraine or Georgia as the demonstrators had not seized the capital as they had in those three countries. 4/16 18 May 2005 0800-0850hrs Working breakfast with OSCE Ambassador MULLER, German Ambassador EICHINGER and French Chargé d'Affaires MILLET Hyatt Regency Hotel, Bishkek The diplomats underlined the importance of international observers at the Kyrgyz elections on 10 July. At present there appeared to be considerable freedom of expression in the country, however it was not clear whether this was because the government could not control the press or because it genuinely wanted a free media.
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