B4-0126, 0161, 0184, 0186, 0196 and 0205/99

Resolution on presidential elections in Kazakhstan

The European Parliament,

A. whereas Kazakhstan held presidential elections on 10 January 1999,

B. whereas Kazakhstan plays a major role in the region and is a natural bridge between Europe and Asia,

C. noting that the European Union has signed a Partnership and Cooperation Agreement with Kazakhstan, which includes respect for OSCE standards and commitments concerning the organisation of free and fair elections,

D. noting that the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) declined in December 1998 to deploy a full-scale observation mission to Kazakhstan because the pre-election campaign conditions clearly and substantially did not meet the OSCE requirements, and that the limited OSCE/ODIHR Election Assessment Mission found that the election process fell far short of the standards to which Kazakhstan is committed as an OSCE participating State,

E. stressing that serious irregularities were observed concerning the rights of citizens to seek office, the duration of the election campaign, freedom of association and assembly, equal access to the media and the legislative framework of the election,

F. stressing that the authorities of Kazakhstan have publicly expressed their commitment to improve the election-related legislation and to implement OSCE/ODIHR recommendations for future elections,

G. noting the report of the European Institute for the Media on press, radio and television coverage of the election campaign during the period 21 December 1998 until 10 January 1999, which concluded that there was widespread bias favouring the incumbent President Nazarbayev, nationally and regionally, and suppression of newspapers such as DAT and 21VEK for criticism and investigation of the financial affairs of the family of President Nazarbayev,

H. alarmed by the disqualification as a presidential candidate of former Prime Minister Azekhan Kazhegeldin, by the use of the presidential decree on elections, on the grounds of administrative tort by the former Prime Minister in the year preceding the presidential election,

I. Aware that parliamentary and local elections will take place in the Republic of Kazakhstan during 1999,

The European Parliament,

1. Denounces the many irregularities that have taken place during the process of the presidential elections in Kazakhstan;

2. Regrets the setback that the conduct of the elections has caused to the democratisation process in Kazakhstan and urges the President of Kazakhstan to call free and fair parliamentary and local elections;

3. Calls on the President and the Government of Kazakhstan to urgently reinforce the process of democratisation and the development of the rule of law in Kazakhstan in line with its commitments as an OSCE participating State;

4. Urges the government to repeal the decree disqualifying candidates who have been convicted of minor and arbitrarily defined offences;

5. Calls on the Commission and the Council to strengthen their support for the democratisation process and respect for human and citizens' rights in Kazakhstan and to link the further implementation of the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement with substantial progress in the democratisation process;

6. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Commission, the Council, the OSCE and the President, Government and Parliament of Kazakhstan.