Roza Otunbayeva to visit Canada to deliver an inaugural pluralism lecture
Bishkek, May 25 / Kabar /. Roza Otunbayeva, former President of the Kyrgyz Republic, will deliver an inaugural lecture on the Prospects and Challenges of Pluralism in the Kyrgyz Republic and Central Asia on May 28th at the Global Centre for Pluralism in Ottawa. Her visit comes at the invitation of His Highness the Aga Khan, the Chairman of the Centre’sBoard. During her visits to Ottawa and Montreal between May 26th and 29th, Ms. Otunbayeva will also hold meetings with high-level Canadian government officials, Members of Parliament, as well as representatives of the diplomatic community, private sector, and civil society organizations. Aga Khan Development Network Representation in the Kyrgyz Republic reports.
“As the first female head of state in Central Asia, Ms. Otunbayeva has demonstrated her commitment to the values of pluralism and democracy and proved to be a courageous and visionary leader,” says John McNee, the Secretary-General of the Global Centre for Pluralism.“I cannot think of a better speaker to launch our annual lecture series on pluralism.”
Ms. Otunbayeva became Central Asia’s first female head of state in April 2010, when she took up the interim presidency of the Kyrgyz Republic after a popular uprising in the country. Under her leadership, the Kyrgyz Republic drafted a new constitution, established a parliamentary system of government and held fair elections that set an important democratic precedent for the region. Ms. Otunbayeva’s term in office ended in December 2011, following presidential elections which she did not contest. That same year, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton presented Ms. Otunbayeva with the prestigious US State Department International Women of Courage award, in recognition of her leadership at a very difficult transition period for the Kyrgyz Republic. Earlier in her career, Ms. Otunbayeva was the Ambassador of Kyrgyzstan to the United States and Canada.
