The President had held conference with all regional and district governors to get firsthand information about electoral activity. "The turnout was greater than ever before even early in the morning," he added.
Mr. Akayev also met with international observers representing the OSCE and the CIS. All approved poll organization.
Kyrgyzstan's Central Election Commission had done a tremendous job, pointed out President Akayev. He is sure today's poll will fully comply with the national legislation.
The President addressed a news conference as soon as he voted in the 7th Constituency of Bishkek, Kyrgyz capital. To call for constitutional amendments is the last thing he wants, he pointed out. "Our opposition alleges the President is out to have the Constitution amended so as to prolong his term. That's a pack of lies. I have never intended to launch any constitutional amendments, and I am not going to do so now."
The US Congress has called Kyrgyzstan to amend its Constitution so as to enhance human rights protection, and balance out the rights and duties of all power branches. But then, that was what a Kyrgyz constitutional reform of 2003 was about. "We have an ideal balance of all power branches thanks to it," stressed the President.
Kyrgyzstan possesses a vast arrangement of mechanisms, from constitutional to public, to guarantee human rights, he emphatically added.
"The opposition and international organizations have done US Congressmen a bad turn by misinforming them," remarked President Akayev. As he sees it, the opposition intends to make Kyrgyzstan a parliamentary republic-a prospect he is skeptical about. After all, Leonid Kuchma intended a similar reform in Ukraine during his presidency, he said.
