Thank you, Mr. Chairman. We, too, would like to thank the distinguished Ambassador of Kyrgyzstan for his very useful report on the work of the Constitutional Council. We hope that his own participation in the Council was helped by his work here in the OSCE and by the dialogue and the issues that he constantly hears discussed here.

The United States has followed closely the Council's deliberations, and we are pleased to see important proposals for realigning the relationship between the three branches of central government and establishing a better balance of authority between the Presidency, the Parliament and the judiciary. Similarly, we see great merit in the efforts to develop meaningful local government.

President Akayev and the participants in the Constitutional Council deserve high praise for their work to date. Now that such important progress has been made on paper, we will watch with great interest the debate over ratification and practical implementation of these proposals. We urge the Government of the Kyrgyz Republic to make every possible effort to ensure that this continuing process enjoys the support and participation of the widest possible cross section of society.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman.