Web site of the United Social Democratic Party of Kazakhstan reports that a roundtable conference took place in Strasbourg on April 25. The European Parliament discussed the constitutional reforms in Kazakhstan. Representatives of democratic parties and social action organizations from Kazakhstan, deputies of the European Parliament, representatives of the Council of Europe and its Venetian Commission were present.

Kazakhstan was represented by free-lance journalist and editor Yermurat Bapi, Atameken Chairman Yerjan Dosmuhamedov, Akejan Kajegeldin (prime minister between 1994 and 1997), Alga! Chairman Asylbek Kojahmetov, Amirjan Kosanov of the United Social Democratic Party, Serik Medetbekov of the Kazakh Opposition Foreign Bureau, and Kahar founder Bahytjan Toregojina.

Participants of the roundtable conference condemned the Constitution of Kazakhstan adopted in 1995 as inadequate to the internationally accepted democratic standards and international obligations of the Republic of Kazakhstan and pronounced it in need of urgent reforms. Kazakh opposition leaders proclaimed establishment of Constitutional Initiative, a permanent advisory council of the Kazakh democratic forces.

Constitutional Initiative will chart a new Constitution of Kazakhstan, compile and publish proposals on the subject, and organize a nationwide discussion of the constitutional reforms.

The draft Constitution of Kazakhstan democratic forces came up with in 2005 may provide the basis of the future document.

All political parties, social action organizations, and individuals are welcome to join Constitutional Initiative and contribute to its work on the new Constitution.

The so called Strasbourg Communique states that "We appeal to the European Parliament, Council of Europe, and its Parliamentary Assembly, Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe to use every meeting with the president and government of the Republic of Kazakhstan to insist on putting an end to the practice of political harassment of the opposition and journalists. We appeal to these international bodies to insist on the release of Alibek Jumabayev and Mahambet Abjan and on termination of criminal prosecution of Bahtyla Tumenova and Bulat Abilov... We urge the European Parliament, Council of Europe, and its Parliamentary Assembly, Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe to demand from the president and government of the Republic of Kazakhstan annulment of politically motivated sentences to opposition activists and journalists like Muhtar Abljazov, Yermurat Bapi, Sergei Duvanov, Galymjan Jakiyanov, Azamat Jegpisbayev, Akejan Kajegeldin, Amirjan Kosanov, Jasaral Kuanyshalin, Kaziz Togusbayev, and many others."

Participants of the roundtable conference appealed to international political bodies, national governments, parliaments, and political parties of OSCE members to exert their influence with the Kazakh authorities to have the latter register the Alga! and Atameken parties and to declare a war on the corrupt deals international corporations carry out in Kazakhstan.

"We appeal as well for a stiffer procedures of control over stock exchange activities of the Kazakh companies like Kazakhmys, Eurasian Industrial Group, and Kazmunaigaz," the communique stated.

Unabridged text of the Strasbourg Communique is available at OSDP.KZ.