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NGO Urges Publication Of New Kyrgyz Constitution


Opposition protesters in Bishkek on November 3 (ITAR-TASS) November 21, 2006 -- An opposition-leaning nongovernmental group today called on Kyrgyz President Kurmanbek Bakiev to publish the text of the constitution that he signed into law on November 9.

Edil Baisalov, the chairman of For Democracy and Civic Society, said any further delay in publishing the new basic law in Kyrgyzstan's official media outlets would "undermine its legitimacy."

The revised constitution reduces the powers of the president to the benefit of the legislature. It was adopted amid opposition-sponsored street protests that called on Bakiev to implement long-awaited constitutional reforms or step down.

Parliamentary speaker Marat Sultanov told lawmakers today that the new constitution is being translated into Kyrgyz and will be published soon.

The text that both the parliament and the president approved was in Russian, which also has official-language status in Kyrgyzstan.

Questions have emerged over how to interpret some clauses of the document, as well as over the need for amendments to related legislation.

(AKIpress, 24.kg)

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