Address of H.E. Ms. R. Otunbayeva, President of Kyrgyz Republic At the annual meeting of stakeholders of the UN Peacebuilding FundUN, New York, 22 November 2011

October 30, 2011 presidential elections in Kyrgyzstan62,52% of those who took part in the elections voted for A. Atambayev.The first peaceful transfer of power from one president to another in the Central Asian region will be held at the inauguration on December 1, 2011.The elections laid the foundation for further strengthening the process of building the first parliamentary democracy in the region.

The price of democratic transformations for KyrgyzstanMore than 90 people were killed during the popular uprising in April of 2010. All in all, 1700 people sufferedThe provoked conflict in June of 2010 took the lives of more than 400 people, and hundreds of thousands ethnic Uzbeks were displaced.The economic development and infrastructure of the south faced millions of dollars in damage.

Efforts towards the stabilization of the situation: all measures of support from international partners Referendum of accepting the Constitution, amendment Parliamentary (October of 2010) and presidential elections, recognized by all observers Formation of public supervisory boards in the ministries, and law enforcements Reformation of the court system

Special attention to the programs of restoration of the infrastructure in the south and the support to the reconciliation processEmergency aid for providing housing, food, water and first aid to the suffered. Aid in restoration of documentation.Special attention to women, children, people with special needs, and the socially vulnerable population groups.

Joint efforts for elaboration of the proposal to the UN Peacebuilding Fund:Government of KyrgyzstanSpecial Representative of the UN Secretary General, Head of the Regional Centre for Preventive Diplomacy for Central Asia, M. Jenca. UNDP, UNICEF, FAO, UNHCR, the UN Women, UN OHCHR and WFPLocal authorities, NGOs, communities, local civil society activists

Peacebuilding Fund took into consideration the systematic approach on the basis of the Concept of Ethnic Policy and consolidationFirst installment: 3 million dollars, November 2010Second installment: 7 million US dollars, end of July of 2011.

Components of the project: youthProfessional-technical education for young people from vulnerable groups, their participation in development worksMore than 1200 people took courses of computer literacy, Russian and English languages17 youth centers in the Osh and Jalal-Abad regions are opened.

Components of the project: womenWomens organizations are involved in peacebuilding processesA Womens Peace Network consisting of different ethnic groups is createdWomen participate in early warning and situation monitoring Young peace ambassadorsare supported by the Womens Peace Network with a component of interregional youth communication

Components of the project: reconstruction of the Uvam canalSpan of 44 kilometersProvides water for 25 villages of multiethnic composition with a population of almost 100 thousand in the Kara-Suu region.Promotes the increase of wellbeing of families, preventing conflicts related to water, creates the basis for trust The canal now bears the name Friendship

Components of the project: grants for local communitiesProjects are directed to:Reestablishment of infrastructureSearch of new sources of funds for existenceInvolvement of all communities and ethnic groups35 projects are already finished, 30 are being realized, and 25 new projects are being planned.

Components of the project: support of mass-media Strengthening the capacity of the media on promoting peace and tolerance.The development of practical skills of journalists for objective and balanced reporting.

Components of the project: administration of justiceWorking with prosecutors, judges and lawyers on justice and protection of human rights.Support for large-scale judicial reforms, programs of inter-regional rotation of judges, elected by the new procedures.

Initiatives of Kyrgyzstan in the field of human rightsVice-chairmanship of the UN Council on Human Rights.The signing of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.Invitation of special Reporters of the UN:on torturefreedom of peaceful assemblies and associationson Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances

Context for programme implementation:Strong, consistent civil society.Traditions of freedom of speech and independent media.Transparency of resource allocations have been effective to absorb the funds of international aid.

Indicators of the stabilization of the situation:GDP growth from January to October was 9%, while revenues have exceeded expectations.In addressing ethnic issues, the Government takes into account most of the recommendations of national and international reports on events in the south.

Priorities for the future (1):Community reconciliation programmes, the integration of UzbeksReforming the language policy, the role of the state language in the education system at all levelsIncrease the capacity of the media, journalistsThe program for the economic empowerment of women, access to financial and informational resources

Priorities for the future (2):Program to expand the horizons and improve the education of youth, student exchange programsPsychological help for different groups emerging from conflict: women, children, policemen, soldiers, etc.

Priorities for the future (3):Reforming the security forcesinstallation of CCTV cameras in places where interrogations occurTraining for police officers, prosecutors, lawyers, judgesIncrease minority representation in power structures

Conclusions:Kyrgyzstan can be an example of effective use of international aidIn 2010 the system worked smoothly and quickly: the Government of Kyrgyzstan, the UN, the Peacebuilding Fund, and NGOs have done everything to mitigate the effects of the conflictKyrgyzstan's experience demonstrates the role of the UN in the modern architecture of peace-building and in response to emergency needs

Gratitude:UN Secretary General Ban Ki-MoonUN Peacebuilding Fund and its SecretariatPBF donorsThe entire international community for helping the people of Kyrgyzstan

" Oh, My Lord! I beg you: Keep in unity my people! May his cattle be born and live, May them multiply and fattened! And may my people for hundreds years Never know Any troubles and sorrow!

Manas epic, prayer of Manas

THANK YOU!