Kazakhstan's Democratic Forces Forum

EC delegation in Kazakhstan
Its leader expressed concern over situation faced by opposition parties
Received via e-mail, 6 March 2001

Correspondents of RFE/RL report that Delegation of European Council's Parliamentary Assembly led by Tadeusz Ilinski - Chairman of the Assembly's Migration and Refugees Committee, arrived to Almaty yesterday, March 5.

Mr. Ilinski met with representatives of opposition parties and movements of Kazakhstan reportedly. Amirzhan Qosanov, Acting Chairman of Republican People Party's Executive Committee told correspondents of RFE/RL today, that officials of Kazakhstan included representatives of pro-government, and pro-Presidential parties, such as Otan and Civic party, to the group of politicians who met with Tadeusz Ilinski.

Today, March 6, the EC delegation arrived to Astana, the capital, where it took part in Parliamentary session reportedly. Mr. Ilinski told members of the Kazakh Parliament, that the issue of Kazakhstan's possible joining to European Council as an observer-state, was under discussion in EC. He also expressed his intention to visit European part (4 per cent of Kazakhstan's territory in the West) of Kazakhstan.

Mr. Ilinski also expressed his concerns over situation faced by some opposition parties and movements in Kazakhstan, namely Republican People's Party. Zharmakhan Tuyaqbay answered that Republican People Party's office was functioning in Almaty, adding that "even the party's periodicals were operating in the country". According to Mr. Tuyaqbay, Republican People's Party does not face any sort of pressure from the government's behalf. Mr. Ilinski also met with Kazakh Premier Qasymzhomart Toqayev today.

RFE/RL, 6 March 2001