KYRGYZSTAN-UN/BAN U.N.'s Ban visits Kyrgyzstan on the fifth anniversary of ethnic clashes

Record ID: 151474

  • Title: KYRGYZSTAN-UN/BAN U.N.'s Ban visits Kyrgyzstan on the fifth anniversary of ethnic clashes
  • Date: 11th June 2015
  • Summary: BISHKEK, KYRGYZSTAN (JUNE 11, 2015) (REUTERS) EXTERIOR OF ALA-ARCHA COMPLEX KYRGYZ AND U.N. FLAGS REFLECTED ON BUILDING VARIOUS OF U.N. SECRETARY-GENERAL BAN KI-MOON AND KYRGYZSTAN PRESIDENT ALMAZBEK ATAMBAYEV ARRIVING TO MAKE STATEMENTS (SOUNDBITE) (English) U.N. SECRETARY-GENERAL BAN KI-MOON, SAYING: "As you are well aware, I was here in April 2010, at a time of high ten
  • Embargoed: 26th June 2015 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Kyrgyzstan
  • Country: Kyrgyzstan
  • Topics: General
  • Reuters ID: LVA3QZ3XFFXN2X6AM3AIWMG94V6R
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon arrived in Kyrgyzstan on Wednesday (June 10) as part of his tour of the five Central Asian states.
    In the capital, he attended an international conference devoted to development of parliamentary democracy and held talks with the country's President Almazbek Atambayev.
    His visit coincided with commemorative events held across the country for hundreds of victims of ethnic clashes in the south in June 2010.
    "As you are well aware, I was here in April 2010, at a time of high tension. Since then, Kyrgyzstan has made a great progress in transitioning to parliamentary democracy and adopting a new constitution," Ban Ki-moon said at a joint news conference with Atambayev on Thursday (June 11).
    Ethnic Kyrgyz and Uzbeks battled each other last year in and around southern cities of Osh and Jalalabad. More than 400 people were killed, including many burnt alive in their homes or shot by marksmen, in four days of clashes that began on June 10, 2010.
    "I encourage the authorities of Kyrgyz Republic to fully investigate human rights violations that have taken place during the tragic inter-ethnic strife in June 2010. I also urge the government to complete the ongoing judicial and law enforcement reforms," Ban, who is expected to visit the southern city of Osh later in the day to attend memorial for victims of ethnic clashes, said.
    He also plans to meet with representatives of ethnic communities and local authorities.
    "We also understand how many issues Kyrgyz authorities are facing, how many of them remain unresolved. We will do our best to justify the trust of the Kyrgyz people and of the international community, which is represented by the United Nations," Atambayev added.
    The Secretary-General's five-day trip through Central Asia began on Tuesday (June 9) in Tajikistan.
    He later visited Kazakhstan before arriving in Kyrgyzstan. He is also set to visit Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan. The trip's agenda focuses on the range of cross-border issues from drug trafficking to environmental degradation and lack of water.
    During his meetings with regional leaders, he will also discuss key U.N. priorities, such as ways to tackle climate change and to ensure sustainable development.
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