UN, U.S. congratulate Kyrgyzstan after peaceful elections

[News_Editor]

UN, U.S. congratulate Kyrgyzstan after peaceful elections

2011-11-01 07:32:10 GMT+7 (ICT)

NEW YORK (BNO NEWS) -- The United Nations and U.S. President Barack Obama on Monday commended the people of Kyrgyzstan for conducting presidential elections in a peaceful manner on Sunday.

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon urged all political forces in the country to work together to ensure a stable post-electoral period. "[ban] wishes to assure the people of Kyrgyzstan of the continued support of the United Nations," his spokesman said.

The Special Representative for Central Asia, Miroslav Jenca, stressed that the election should contribute to a democratic, secure and prosperous future for all citizens of Kyrgyzstan. Jenca visited the Kyrgyz capital on Sunday and met with President Roza Otunbaeva, Chair of the Central Election Commission Tuigunaly Abdraimov and other officials during a two-day visit.

U.S. President Barack Obama also congratulated the people and the government of Kyrgyzstan. "In casting their ballots, the Kyrgyz people have taken an important and courageous step on the path of democracy and demonstrated their commitment to an orderly and open transition of power," he said.

Obama added: "The people of Kyrgyzstan will have a partner in the United States as they undertake the hard work of building upon the democratic gains of the past eighteen months and realizing a democratic, prosperous and just future for all Kyrgyz citizens."

The presidential poll came a year after the Central Asian country experienced deadly clashes between ethnic Kyrgyz and ethnic Uzbeks. Hundreds of people were killed and an estimated 375,000 others were displaced.

According to early reports, former Prime Minister Almazbek Atambayev was in the lead of the polls. Outgoing President Roza Otunbayeva took power after a violent uprising against the regime of Kurmanbek Bakiyev last year.

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