OSCE member countries call for restoration of peace in Kyrgyzstan

Taking into consideration the earlier warning on the situation in southern regions of Kyrgyzstan made by the OSCE High Commissioner for National Minorities, the OSCE member countries expressed deep concern over the current events in the Kyrgyz Republic and called on "all representatives of Kyrgyzstan to refrain from violence and exercise restraint"

The member-countries state that the OSCE was ready "to provide assistance to Kyrgyzstan at its request in regulation of the current crisis, prevention of further spread of tense in the region and assistance in post-conflict rehabilitation. The Organization is ready to cooperate closely and coordinate activity with the UN and other relevant international organizations and urges the global community to provide urgent humanitarian aid".

Ambassador Kairat Abdrakhmanov, a representative of Kazakhstan, who is also the Chairman of the Permanent Council, welcomed the statement. "This statement made on the basis of consensus shows that all 56 member countries of the OSCE unanimously realize necessity of restoration of peace in Kyrgyzstan as soon as possible and prevention of further violence and death of people", Abdrakhmanov said. "Adoption of this statement is of paramount importance in the context of strong appeal to the OSCE on provision of help made yesterday by the Kyrgyz delegation at the session of the Permanent Council. I believe that the OSCE will be able activate provision of aid to Kyrgyzstan together with other international organizations. In this context I warmly welcome the address of the High Commissioner for National Minorities made at yesterday's session, especially, his certain proposals. I call on all member countries to consider these ideas together with other propositions on OSCE structures' activity. I sincerely hope that we will take certain decisions and allocate all necessary resources for their realizations soon", he stressed.

The special session of the Permanent Council, one of the major bodies of the OSCE, was convoked in accordance by a decision of the OSCE Chairman-in-Office Kanat Saudabayev. The decision was based on the warming made by Ambassador, OSCE High Commissioner for National Minorities Knut Vollebaek on June 12.