Astana OSCE Summit is important in context of ensuring security in CA region - Kyrgyz political scientist

86 people died at that time in Bishkek as a result of civil riots. Former President of the country Kurmanbek Bakiyev left for his motherland - Jalal-Abad region which only exacerbated the situation. The country faced a real threat to be divided into south and north.

Amid the political crisis in Kyrgyzstan Kazakhstan acted as an effective OSCE presiding country having sent its Special Envoy Zhanybek Karibzhanov to Bishkek. President of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev coordinated the efforts of the leaders of the world empires - the U.S.A., Russia, representatives of the European Union and the United Nations Organization. Kurmanbek Bakiyev left the country due to the Kazakh militaries' bravery and discipline.

According to Director of the OSCE Conflict Prevention Centre Herbert Salber, the decision on departure of the ex-President of Kyrgyzstan was quite right,

"I am confident that adoption of this decision in April-May was quite right, for the first goal of the international community at that time was creation of conditions for peace and stability in Kyrgyzstan. I think that departure of Mr. Bakiyev facilitated ensuring stability", H. Salber told Kazinform in an interview.

Associate Professor of the Department for Theory and History of International Relations of the Saint Petersburg State University Alexander Sotnichenko notes that Kazakhstan acts as a mediator between the Central Asian region and Europe. "Kazakhstan enjoys good relations both with Russia and the U.S.A. During the political crisis in Kyrgyzstan Kazakhstan's position was not to allow anybody entering this region", he said at the Interparliamentary discussion devoted to the results of Kazakhstan's OSCE chairmanship which was held in Saint Petersburg in early November.

"In this situation Kazakhstan showed itself not only as the OSCE chairing country and performed formal functions on regulating the situation but it also helped us as our brotherly nation", Leader of Kyrgyzstan's Ar-Namys Party Felix Kulov said in an interview.

"It seems that Kazakhstan had a dual role and it did much more than other OSCE presiding country could do. Kazakhstan knows the situation in Kyrgyzstan better than others: we have common mentality and common pain", the Kyrgyz political scientist added.

The spirit of good-neighborhood of the Kazakh and Kyrgyz people, historical commonality of the two states reconditioned large-scale humanitarian aid of Kazakhstan sent to Kyrgyzstan after the tragic events on the south of the country.

On behalf of the Kyrgyz people President of the country Roza Otunbayeva expressed sincere thanks to President Nursultan Nazarbayev for his great contribution to restoration of the city of Osh, settlements of Osh and Jalal-Abad oblasts. "Urgent and effective humanitarian assistance in the form of construction materials and food products amounting to over USD 11 mln significantly influenced stabilization of the situation and reduction of tension in southern Kyrgyzstan", R.Otunbayeva emphasized.

Two residential high-rise buildings for 139 families are under construction in Osh. In settlements of Osh and Jalal-Abad oblasts construction and recovery work in 1983 house buildings is conducted, owners of which were rendered targeted assistance. Humanitarian aid was fully delivered to over 15,000 residents of southern Kyrgyzstan without losses and under public control.

Kazakhstan's support was not limited to rendering assistance. Kazakhstan is first among world leaders suggested to begin implementation of a multimillion program of economic recovery and restoration of Kyrgyzstan. In the course of the third CICA Summit in Istanbul Nursultan Nazarbayev urged the world community to develop a large scale plan of assistance to Kyrgyzstan. Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan established also a high-level working group for elaboration of a task-oriented and practical program of issues solution of which satisfies needs of the Kyrgyz economy and recovery of business activity in the country.

Later, during elections of deputies of the new parliament - the Jogorku Kenesh, Kazakhstan, having a mandate of the OSCE chairman, organized monitoring of the electoral process, which was highly appreciated by such a structure as the ODIHR.

Kazakhstan as OSCE chair welcomed peaceful holding of the parliamentary elections in the neighbor country and wished establishment of political stability and social harmony in Kyrgyzstan.

Kyrgyz political scientist Karybek Baibosunov considers that the OSCE Summit in Astana and participation of the Kyrgyz delegation headed by President Roza Otunbayeva in it are very important in the context of ensuring security in the Central Asian region. "Roza Otunbayeva was invited to the Summit as the President of Kyrgyzstan, and she will not be an underpart there. Her participation in the event will be outlined with agreements on the issues regarding security and cooperation in other spheres", K. Baibosunov continues.

"At present Kyrgyzstan experiences a very difficult period in its history - a stage of transformation from a presidential to a parliamentary form of government. Meetings of such level as the OSCE Summit will promote Kyrgyzstan's integration into this Organization", he notes.

"Touching upon the current OSCE chairing country - Kazakhstan, I can say that it has played one of the decisive roles in stabilizing the situation in Kyrgyzstan. We hope that our cooperation in security and economy will be on the high level", K. Baibosunov emphasizes.