Astana not mature enough for Vienna
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Vienna, September 24, 2007
United States Mission to the OSCE
Statement on Kazakhstan’s
Parliamentary Elections
As delivered by Ambassador Julie Finley
to the Permanent Council, Vienna
September 6, 2007
Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
As we have stated on numerous occasions in this forum and elsewhere, the United States
wants to do all it can to help Kazakhstan become a pillar of stability, prosperity and
democratic reform in Central Asia and a country that exemplifies the principles of the
OSCE, including its commitment to a government based on democratic institutions and
respect for human rights. The Government and people of Kazakhstan deserve praise for the
strides their country has made in fostering respect for human rights through, for example,
the promotion of religious tolerance and inter-ethnic accord.
Last month, Kazakhstan held important Parliamentary elections. Like ODIHR and the OSCE
Parliamentary Assembly (PA) observer missions, the United States watched with great
interest as the elections unfolded.
Like ODIHR and the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly, we welcome indicators of progress such as
inclusive candidate registration lists, extensive voter education, and increased
transparency of the work of the Central Election Commission.
We also share, however, the serious concerns of the observer missions about the conduct of
the elections, including a negative assessment of the transparency of the vote count in
over 40 percent of the polling stations visited; preferential treatment of the ruling Nur
Otan party by authorities and government-controlled media; and restrictive legal
provisions that limited the right to seek public office, established a high vote
percentage threshold for representation in the Mazhilis, and provided for parties to
choose which candidates would become members of parliament only after the election.
The OSCE Observer Mission concluded that the elections did not meet international
standards on a number of important grounds. We await additional information in the final
ODIHR report. We remain concerned about the lack of substantial progress on an array of
democratic reforms, including those that would promote independent media, freely elected
local self-government, and an easing of registration requirements for political parties.
While the United States welcomes Kazakhstan’s aspiration to serve as Chairman-in-Office
of the OSCE, the most recent elections in Kazakhstan raise important questions about its
readiness to serve in this leadership role. As the OSCE Ministerial Council concluded in
Brussels last December, any country applying for the Chairmanship of the OSCE must
exemplify the principles of the Organization, including developing democratic institutions
and respecting human rights. The United States reaffirms its desire to do all it can to
help Kazakhstan meet the high standards expected of the Chairman-in-Office.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
United States Mission to the OSCE
Response to the Address
by H.E. Kanat B. Saudabayev,
Secretary of State of Kazakhstan
As prepared for delivery by Charge d' Affaires Kyle Scott
to the Permanent Council, Vienna
September 20, 2007
Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
And thank you, Secretary Saudabayev, for coming to the Permanent Council today to share
with us your government’s views on the reform process in Kazakhstan and your country’s
aspirations to lead this organization.
As you know, the United States was very interested in your country’s August 18th
parliamentary elections. As a country that strongly supports the process of
democratization in Kazakhstan and around the world, the United States believes that free
and fair elections are a crucial component of democracy. We welcomed indicators of
progress during the August elections, but also shared the serious concerns of the observer
missions about the electoral legislation and a process that fell short of international
standards.
The issue of Kazakhstan’s bid for the 2009 Chairmanship of this organization has been
under discussion in various OSCE fora for quite some time now. The United States welcomes
Kazakhstan’s aspiration to serve as Chairman-in-Office of the OSCE. As the OSCE
Ministerial Council concluded in Brussels last December, any country applying for the
Chairmanship of the OSCE must exemplify the principles of the Organization. It is
important for this organization as well as for Kazakhstan that it demonstrate fully this
commitment by taking actions to advance democratic reforms, including passing election
laws that comply with OSCE standards and implementing these in practice, direct election
of local authorities, and an easing of registration requirements for political parties.
I wish to underscore that the United States remains committed to helping Kazakhstan meet
the spirit and the letter of the OSCE principles it has pledged to uphold. We look forward
to working with your government as Kazakhstan strives to meet the high standards expected
of any candidate country for the OSCE Chairmanship.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
25 Sep 2007
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