Chairperson Shaikova stressed the high importance of the Centre: “During the electoral cycle between 2015 to 2017 about 13,000 SRS/CEC experts have been trained on a smooth organization of elections, use of ICT equipment, appropriate delivery of information, effective electoral disputes resolution mechanisms for successful election campaigns. Therefore, the need for having such training centre is still urgent, as skills and knowledge should be updated regularly to be in shorthand with new technologies and innovations”.

Citizens want transparent, effective and accountable governments, with institutions that empower people and are responsive to their aspirations. The SRS, with the support of the UNDP, the Government of Switzerland and the OSCE Programme Office in Bishkek, has addressed this need by introducing these novelty technologies, which demanded a new set of knowledge and skills of SRS staff. Eventually, this cooperative work has led to an opening of the Capacity Development Centre.

“Knowledge and innovation are inseparable from each other - they drive societies and economies around the world. I believe this Capacity Development Centre will become a knowledge hub for the SRS staff, who is working towards building strong institutions and democratic society in the Kyrgyz Republic. UNDP promotes innovation, capacity development, and empowerment through sustainable approaches which we can share with our partners to bring the technologies and innovations for the benefit of people”, said Dr. Ozonnia Ojielo, UN Resident Coordinator/ UNDP Resident Representative in the Kyrgyz Republic.

“Change is the driver of progress and today the SRS demonstrates that change is already taking place in the public services industry in Kyrgyzstan, and the OSCE is proud to be a part of it,” said Ambassador Chiveri, Deputy Head of the OSCE Programme Office in Bishkek. Indeed, the Centre will play a significant role in maintaining and upgrading the SRS’s knowledge for improving the provision of public services and heightening inter-organizational communication.

The SRS Capacity Development Centre was an important part of the Kyrgyz Election Support Project 2 (KESP2), which was implemented by UNDP and financed by the Governments of Switzerland and Denmark. The project aimed to support the SRS and CEC in organising free, competitive, and peaceful elections throughout the Kyrgyz Republic. To achieve this goal, the SRS and CEC officials need to be well trained and to have access to modern and safe technology.

The “Francophonie Week” is the festival of the French language and cultures of the French-speaking countries, which is celebrated in the middle of March across the world. The organizers have prepared a program for the broad public to show the linguistic and cultural diversity of the French-speaking countries.

French is the fifth language spoken in the world and the third language for business. French is an official language in 29 countries and there are more than 274 million Francophones or French speakers worldwide.

The Francophonie week will be launched in Bishkek on March 12 with the French movie “Le sens de la fête” to be screened at 18:00 at the “Ala-Too” cinema.

The Belgian movie “Je suis mort mais j’ai des amis” (I’m dead but I have friends) will be shown on March 14 at 17:00 and the Canadian film “Maïna” at 19:00 at the Academy of Tourism (99 Chui avenue).

The Swiss animation film “Ma vie de Courgette” (My life as a Zucchini) will be screened on March 17 at 18:00 at the "Rossiya" cinema. All films are in French with Russian subtitles.

The Francophonie program will have 19 events during 6 days consisting of sport, cultural and artistic activities, such as competition of French songs, the French game "Petanque", and a quiz night, and many other events.

There will also be conferences on education in the French speaking countries (March 14 at 2pm in the Alliance française 242 Ogonbaeva street) as well as on the “Erasmus plus” programme in Europe (March 16 at 2 pm, same address).

All interested people are welcome to join.

The detailed program is presented online on the Facebook pages of the “Alliance française de Bichkek”, the “Ambassade de France au Kirghizstan”, “Swiss Embassy Kyrgyzstan” as well as on the website of the French Embassy.