Coalition for democracy and society calls for cooperation with government

In concluding its bi-annual general assembly in the capital Bishkek, the “Coalition for Democracy and Society” on Sunday called for greater cooperation with the government in an effort to bring about further democratic reform in the country. “We cannot afford to spend the next five years complaining about the last election,” Edil Baissaloff, national coordinator for the non partisan civic group, told IRIN on Tuesday. “Although we discussed October’s election results which we deemed to be unfair and undemocratic, the delegates of our coalition have decided to enter constructive dialogue with the government in an effort to bring about civil education, local government reform and anti corruption initiatives.” Baissaloff, who refrained from describing his organisation as an opposition group said: “We see ourselves rather as a watchdog organisation. We tell the government what we think.” The coalition was founded on 16 December 1998 and has been extremely critical of the Kyrgyz leadership for irregularities during the last parliamentary and presidential elections. Government officials have attacked both the organisation’s members and its leader, Tolikan Ismailova. International watchdog groups the Office for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) and the National Democratic Institute (NDI), have both issued reports citing election irregularities.