Military

DATE=7/11/05

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

TITLE=KYRGYZ/ELECTIONS (L-ONLY)

NUMBER=2-325840

BYLINE=LISA MCADAMS

DATELINE=BISHKEK, KYRGYZSTAN

/// EDS: THERE IS A "Q AND A" FOLLOWING THIS REPORT. AUDIO FOR THE Q WILL BE FED AT THE END OF THE PIECE ///

HEAD: OSCE Says Kyrgyz Vote Advances Democratic Progress

INTRO: The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), which monitored Sunday's presidential election in Kyrgyzstan, said the vote marked tangible progress toward democracy. The elections were held less than four months after former President Askar Akayev fled the country in the wake of violent anti-government protests. VOAs Lisa McAdams is in the Kyrgyz capital, Bishkek, with details.

TEXT: The head of the OSCE's long-term mission to Kyrgyzstan, Ambassador Lubomir Kopaj, hailed what he says is the country's swift progress toward meeting international standards for democratic elections.

It was just a little more than three-months ago that stone-throwing demonstrators stormed the presidential palace in the capital, Bishkek, forcing then-president Askar Akayev to flee. Protesters were angry over alleged manipulation of earlier parliamentary elections.

According to preliminary results from Kyrgyzstan's Central Election Commission, acting President Kurmanbek Bakiyev won 89-percent of the vote.

Ambassador Kopaj says Sunday's presidential elections demonstrated measurable progress toward democracy by both the interim authorities and the Kyrgyz people, especially compared to previous elections in Kyrgyzstan.

/// KOPAJ ACT ///

"There were almost no discernible obstacles to campaigning, except the available financial resources of candidates themselves. Freedom of assembly and freedom of expression were respected throughout the election process. (Abuse of) administrative resources to favor the incumbent was largely absent, or unsolicited, after strong warnings were announced (by politicians and the interim administration.)"

/// END ACT ///

The OSCE's Kopaj also noted considerable progress regarding the use of media, which was of great concern during the flawed parliamentary elections earlier this year that led to Kyrgyzstan's political uprising.

He paid particular tribute to the staging of televised debates in Kyrgyzstan for the first time - and the first-ever run for Kyrgyz president by a woman candidate.

But another OSCE election observer noted that Mr. Bakiyev faced little competition in his bid for the presidency, after he secured the support of opposition leader Felix Kulov, who was a potential rival for the presidency, but now is expected to be named prime minister.

This is the OSCE's chief coordinator for short-term observers, Kimmo Kiljunen.

/// KILJUNEN ACT ///

"An early agreement between Mr. Bakiyev and Mr. Felix Kulov, while appearing to be key for stabilizing the political process, reduced to some extent the degree of competition. Unfortunately, political parties had limited impact on the campaign, (due) to the fact that influence of party structures remains fragmented."

/// END ACT ///

/// OPT /// Mr. Kiljunen also noted questions surrounding the Central Election Commission's preliminary report of nearly 100-percent voter turn-out. He says the OSCE will be examining possible problems with voter turn-out figures, as well as what he said were minor problems with voting lists. But overall, the OSCE's Mr. Kiljunen says election day was peaceful and a step in the right direction.

The OSCE is urging Kyrgyz officials to continue the process of further strengthening democracy in Kyrgyzstan, a nation widely viewed as a possible catalyst for regime change elsewhere in Central Asia. /// END OPT ///

For his part, Mr. Bakiyev told reporters at the presidential palace it was really the people of Kyrgyzstan who had won this election and that the country no longer risks a dangerous north-south divide.

Mr. Bakiyev also pledged to oversee reforms to parliament and the Constitution, but he twice ruled out any re-run of the flawed parliamentary vote earlier this year that sparked the political unrest. (SIGNED)

NEB/LAM/RAE/TW

Q: What happens next in the Kyrgyz electoral process?

A: First, the CEC must determine the final, official results, which will then be passed to Kyrgyzstan's Constitutional Court for review. The court then passes it back to the CEC, which publishes the final, official result. Most people we spoke with say that development appears to be at least two more weeks off. At that time, the newly-elected president will then compose his cabinet and parliament will have to suspend their holiday recess and reconvene to approve the new government.