Role, perspectives of OSCE and 2010 Kazakh Chairmanship discussed in Almaty

ALMATY, 21 May 2008 - The role of the OSCE in addressing security challenges in the 21st century, regional security issues and the 2010 Kazakh Chairmanship were discussed at a meeting supported by the OSCE Centre in Astana today.

The event brought together politicians, government officials, local and international experts, civil society representatives, academics and journalists. They focused on the OSCE values and commitments and the role of civil society within the OSCE framework. Participants offered recommendations on further developing the Organization in the the political-military, economic and environmental and human dimensions of security.

"The OSCE has a broad membership, which allows for an extended political dialogue, a comprehensive approach to security, and a large network of field missions. We believe that Kazakhstan will effectively use this potential in addressing different security challenges in the OSCE region when it chairs the Organization in 2010," said Jeannette Kloetzer, the Deputy Head of the OSCE Centre.

Gani Kasymov, a member of the Kazakh Parliament, added: "Kazakhstan's Chairmanship in OSCE will lead to a new phase in development of the Organization. It is particularly important that in this capacity, our country will be a connecting bridge between other regional organizations, such as SCO, CICA and CIS, located both within and outside the boundaries of the OSCE."

Yevgeniy Zhovtis, the Head of the Kazakhstan International Bureau for Human Rights and Rule of Law, said: "OSCE supports dialogue and co-operation between civil society and the government. In this respect, the role of the non-governmental sector is to articulate, promote and protect fundamental principles of democracy, human rights and rule of law."

The event was organized by the OSCE Centre, the Kazakhstan Institute for Strategic Studies and the Al-Farabi Kazakh National University. It was part of the OSCE Centre's activities in raising awareness of the Organization's principles and commitments and assisting the host government to prepare for the 2010 Chairmanship.