April 15, 10

NEWS / Ban welcomes arrangement enabling Kyrgyz ex-president to depart

15 April 2010 – The Secretary-General today welcomed the arrangement between Kyrgyzstan’s Provisional Government and former president Kurmanbek Bakiyev that has enabled him to leave the country.

“The Secretary-General believes that this is an important step toward the peaceful, stable, prosperous and democratic development of the country and its good governance,” the Secretary-General’s spokesperson Martin Nesirky said in a statement.

Mr. Bakiyev left the country today for neighbouring Kazakhstan, according to media reports. He had fled to the south of Kyrgyzstan as a bloody uprising against his Government unfolded in the country’s capital, Bishkek, last week. Dozens of people died in the unrest.

“The UN, together with its international and regional partners, is ready to work with the authorities in Bishkek for the benefit of the people of Kyrgyzstan,” Mr. Nesirky said in the statement.

“The Secretary-General underlines the importance of universal respect for the principles of international humanitarian and human rights laws and of justice and accountability,” he added.

http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=34381&Cr=Kyrgyz&Cr1=