ASTANA. September 16. KAZINFORM A group of 12 political parties' activists, government officials as well as representatives of civil society and think tanks from Kazakhstan took part in an OSCE Centre-supported five-day study tour to Poland which concluded in Warsaw on 14 September 2012.

The tour participants had fruitful discussions with representatives of Polish political parties, Parliament, the Presidential Administration, the government, and think tanks. They learned about the Polish political party system and the country's experience with democratic institutions. In addition, they discussed the Polish experience in party financing and issues concerning internal party democracy, the press service of the OSCE Centre in Astana said.

During the tour the group also visited the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) in Warsaw where they were told about the role political parties as a fundamental element of pluralist political society play in ensuring an informed and participative electorate, as well as in promoting genuine multi-party systems.

The study tour is part of a project supported by the OSCE Centre aimed at enhancing Kazakhstan's political party system which is conducted in partnership with the Astana-based Public Foundation for Parliamentary Development in Kazakhstan and ODIHR. The project also includes a study of political parties' activities, a training programme, and a concluding round-table discussion.