[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 59 (Wednesday, May 4, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E804-E805]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 RECOGNIZING THE ONGOING DEMOCRATIC TRANSITION OCCURRING IN THE KYRGYZ 
                                REPUBLIC

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. DAN BURTON

                               of indiana

                    in the house of representatives

                         Wednesday, May 4, 2011

  Mr. BURTON of Indiana. Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize the ongoing 
democratic transition occurring in the Kyrgyz Republic. This transition 
began in April 2010 when former President Kurmanbek Bakiyev fled the 
capital as a result of mass protests over his regime's corrupt and 
repressive rule. Less than a month after taking power, the interim 
government of President Roza Otunbayeva formed a commission to draft a 
new constitution. The constitution produced by this commission was 
overwhelmingly passed by a national referendum and will take effect 
after elections are held in December of this year.
  Monitors from the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe 
reported that the October 2010 election to fill the 120 seats of the 
country's legislature, the Jorgorku Kenesh, ``constituted a further 
consolidation of the democratic process and brought the country closer 
to meeting its international commitments on democratic elections.'' I 
applaud this achievement and accept the view of Morten Hoglund, head of 
OSCE observer mission, that ``this election reflected the will of the 
people of the Kyrgyz Republic.''
  I, along with some of my colleagues, was honored to meet President 
Otunbayeva when she visited Washington in March to accept the State 
Department's 2011 International Women of Courage Award. President 
Otunbayeva deserves this award not only for her leadership in a time of 
crisis, not only for being the first female Head of State of a Central 
Asian nation, but foremost for her promotion of a constitution that 
recognizes her status as an interim leader and prohibits her from 
running for reelection. President Otunbayeva repeated her intention to 
step down during our conversation. I believe this willingness to allow 
the democratic process to move forward is the true sign of the 
President's courage.
  Despite the existence of a new constitution and the upcoming 
election, the Kyrgyz Republic's democratic transition is not complete.

[[Page E805]]

President Otunbayeva's government, as well as the government of her 
successor, must continue to fully investigate incidences of violence in 
the southern part of the country and to prosecute those responsible. In 
addition the government of the Kyrgyz Republic must continue to work 
with the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe to reform 
its law-enforcement agencies to ensure that these agencies are properly 
trained to prevent and respond to incidents of violence.
  The Kyrgyz Republic is a key ally in the fight against terrorism. The 
country declared its support for the United States immediately after 
September 11, 2001 and quickly granted the United States access to 
Kyrgyz airspace in support of counterterrorism operations in 
Afghanistan. Since December 2001, the Manas Transit Center located at 
Manas International Airport near Bishkek has served, according to the 
U.S. Air Force, as the ``premier air mobility hub supporting military 
operations in Afghanistan.'' In addition to serving as a key transit 
point for personnel and materials moving into Afghanistan, the Manas 
Transit Center supports aerial refueling and medical evacuation 
operations. I applaud President Otunbayeva's continued support for the 
Transit Center and call on her successor to honor the agreement made 
between the United States and the Kyrgyz Republic in 2009 that 
guarantees American use of the facility through 2014.
  Under the leadership of President Roza Otunbayeva, the Kyrgyz 
Republic is moving in the right direction; however, the country's 
democratic transition must continue. I call on the government of 
President Otunbayeva and the Kyrgyz people to continue developing 
strong institutions that uphold the fundamental rights of all citizens 
and residents of the Kyrgyz Republic and to hold free and fair 
presidential elections in December.

                          ____________________