John Kerry: “this is a critical moment for Kyrgyzstan's democratic transition. On June 27, 2010, the people of Kyrgyzstan took to the…”

“this is a critical moment for Kyrgyzstan's democratic transition. On June 27, 2010, the people of Kyrgyzstan took to the polls to adopt a new constitution for their country. The vote sent a powerful message to the region and to the world: that democracy is an idea whose appeal transcends ethnic divides. Kyrgyzstan's President, Roza Otunbayeva, deserves enormous credit for orchestrating the transition to democratic rule after the deadly interethnic clashes of last summer. Since that tumultuous period, President Otunbayeva has overseen the first free and truly democratic parliamentary elections in central Asia. She has made it a priority to strengthen the rule of law, and she has moved to create a government that is increasingly responsive to the needs of all its citizens, regardless of ethnicity. Kyrgyzstan today stands at a crossroads. Its people have expressed the desire to live in an open, free, and just society. Over the past year, we have witnessed some progress toward that goal, with credible parliamentary elections in October, the formation of a government in December, and a more vibrant media and political debate. But let's be clear: Kyrgyzstan's democratic experiment faces considerable challenges. Three, in particular, threaten the aspirations that powered last year's historic vote. First, Kyrgyzstan's coalition government is beset by infighting. The task of rebuilding the country after the turmoil of the past year is daunting.…”