BISHKEK, Kyrgyz republic –

Miroslav Jenča, Special Representative of the UN Secretary General and Head of the UN Regional Center for Preventive Diplomacy for Central Asia, visited Kyrgyzstan on 26-28 March. He met with President Almazbek Atambaev, Toraga (Speaker) of the Jogorku Kenesh (Parliament) Asilbek Jeenbekov, Prime Minister Jantoro Satybaldiev and Minister of Foreign Affairs Erlan Abdyldaev. In Osh, he met with the leadership of Osh oblast and the city administration. The SRSG also met with the representatives of the ethnic Uzbek community and civil society organizations.

During his meetings, the SRSG noted the progress achieved in stabilizing the South of the country, but at the same time underlined the need to address the root causes of instability and to make the process irreversible. In this context, he called for the implementation of the recently endorsed Concept on Strengthening the National Unity and Inter-ethnic Relations of the Kyrgyz Republic, particularly its provisions aimed at forming a civic identity; strengthening the unifying role of the State language while simultaneously developing linguistic diversity including the languages of national minorities; and wider representation of ethnic communities in State and municipal organs. In this connection, the SRSG underlined the importance of building the capacity of the civil service and the further reform of the judiciary and law enforcement agencies. He also expressed the readiness of the United Nations to extend support to the implementation of the Concept, including through the framework of the UN Peacebuilding Fund.

Regarding the situation surrounding disputed parts of the State border and the recent incident around the Sokh enclave, the SRSG noted the importance of finding a solution to these problems through negotiations with neighboring States aimed at strengthening border security and promoting the development of cross-border cooperation.

The SRSG and his interlocutors also exchanged opinions regarding issues of the management of water and energy resources in Central Asia and countering transnational threats. Discussions also focused on the influence of developments in Afghanistan on the situation in the region and the possible participation of Kyrgyzstan in reconstruction efforts in Afghanistan.