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Omurbek Tekebayev: Kurmanbek Bakiyev personally offered his resignation to OSCE Chairman-in-Office â€“ INTERVIEW - EXCLUSIVE

Omurbek Tekebayev: Kurmanbek Bakiyev personally offered his resignation to OSCE Chairman-in-Office â€“ <font color=red> INTERVIEW - EXCLUSIVE </font>

26 April 2010 12:10 (UTC +04:00)

Bishkek. A. Mammadov â€“ APA. APAâ€™s interview with former speaker of Kyrgyzstanâ€™s parliament, who is represented in the interim government, leader of Ata Meken socialist party Omurbek Tekebayev

-Omurbek Cherkeshevich, why was Kurmanbek Bakiyev removed from power?

-Bakiyev established a family criminal form of management. If in a country constitutional authorities actually do not function, the desire of close relatives prevail over the rule of law, relatives dictate their desire to the parliament, ministries and other bodies, the state policy is under the command of a family and its concrete members, this is a regime against the people and the state policy is against the interests of the people. Certainly, this regime could be preserved only by force. Bakiyev persecuted his political opponents, journalists. The persecution was realized in different forms â€“ dismissal from work, inspections in enterprises, illegal arrests, threats, beating and killing. The people wanted democratic ruling to be maintained, state policy to meet the interests of the people, fair policy to be pursued. Most experts consider that the reason of the peopleâ€™s mutiny was the rise of prices for electricity and other utility services. I think this is not a right opinion. Maybe the price rise was the last straw to exhaust the patience of the people. But, anyway there was injustice, everybody wanted free society to be formed, the society, where rich people or state officials can not insult the ordinary people. The main aim of the mutiny and revolution was the insult of people.

-What measures is the interim government taking to prevent national conflicts, patriotic war, to stabilize the situation in the republic?

-After April 7, the country and the interim government had three urgent tasks. First, to restore rule of law, public order. The second target was the solution of economic and social problems. The third target was to legitimate the activity of the new government. The interim government is recognized in the territory of all Kyrgyzstan. Bakiyevâ€™s supporters attempted to violate stability, create confrontation among the regions, national confrontation, but failed. Former president Bakiyev personally is participating in this process and making provocative statements from Kazakhstan, then from Minsk. But I consider that they will not be able to violate stability in the republic. The new government has been recognized in the whole world de facto, though not de jure. The whole world has admitted the fact of Bakiyevâ€™s resignation, Kazakhstan, Russia and other countries have openly stated it.

now we should solve economic and social problems. The consequences of the April happenings have not been eliminated completely. We are working on it, I am working on the constitutional reforms that will confirm Kyrgyzstanâ€™s turning into a parliamentary republic. We are preparing new draft constitution, according to this draft our country will become a parliamentary republic. The constitution will envisage guarantee for the oppositionâ€™s functioning. This guarantee and mechanisms support the opposition so that they can really compete with the ruling party. Therefore, we have determined the number of maximal seats in the parliament for a party as â€œ50%+5 mandateâ€, so that the parties can not have the absolute majority of votes, even if people vote. The seats above this limit will be distributed among other parties. The law also assigns some state posts for the opposition. For example, minority of parties will determine the one third part of Auditing Chamber at the parliament, one third of Central Election Commission will be appointed from opposition representatives, finance and tax, work with law-enforcement bodies, human rights committees will be given to opposition representatives. Up to now, law-enforcement bodies have played the weapon role against opposition and groups with different thought. It order to remove these bodies from policy we intend to give the control over the activity of these bodies to the opposition. And in this way, the process of becoming power structures into remote organizations will strengthen.

-Is there expected any new stage in Kyrgyzstan-Azerbaijan relations?

-Our foreign policy priorities remain unchanged. These are the traditional priorities of former soviet republics, neighboring countries, Turkic states and nations. We will abide the historical priorities, as well as develop friendly relations with Azerbaijani people and state.

-Will the interim government look through relations with Western countries again?

-Western countries and Europe have their own interests. They are democratic states and our way of administration of parliament must be supported by democratic countries, as well by European countries and US.

-Recently, in spite of his resignation, Kurmanbek Bakiyev said at the meeting with journalists in Minsk that he didnâ€™t recognize the interim government. How will this statement impact on political state in the republic and Kyrgyzstanâ€™s relations with Belarus, where Bakiyev had taken refuge in?

-Such character of Bakiyev is known in Kyrgyzstan for a long time. He used to sign Constitution and then after a day he refused his signature; promised his nation and then refused his promise some days later. World community could see the true face of Bakiyev for the first time. US, Russia and Kazakhstan were guarantee for Bakiyev. Such authoritative international organizations as UN and OSCE supported him. They realized mediating mission and negotiations. I must note that Interim Government hasnâ€™t conducted any negotiations principally. He has presented his resignation to the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, Kazakhstan’s Secretary of State and Foreign Minister and the original of the document has been sent to the interim government. These statements demonstrated to the entire world who is Bakiyev. I think that his supporters parried a hard blow with this step. Even after such hypocritical statements his supporters donâ€™t believe in his return as a politician and president.

-Which steps are being taken for coming out of economic and social situation?

-The government solves the problems occurred as a result of April events and those which are waiting for their solution. In other issues we pursue a support policy for national production and agriculture. Soon, there will be held elections. All parties, as well as parties which are being represented in the Interim Government will offer their economic programs. I think that the main economic program of the state will be arranged after the elections. Today we want to achieve the national economy which implements its function stably. Future priorities of the government will occur in pre-election struggle and will be realized as a state program after the elections.