Kyrgyz President Says Democracy Needs More Time
March 23, 2006
Kyrgyz President Kurmanbek Bakiev (file photo) (RFE/RL)
Speaking on the eve of the first anniversary of the uprising that toppled then-President Askar Akaev, Bakiev acknowledged that Kyrgyzstan still faces problems with organized crime and endemic corruption, but said these are problems difficult to eradicate quickly.
Bakiev said he remains committed to implementing constitutional reform, but argued that the process should be gradual to give people time to adjust.
(ITAR-TASS, AP)