OSCE Chairperson meets Armenian leadership, says dialogue between neighbours key to peaceful settlement, stability

YEREVAN, 16 February 2010 - The OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, Secretary of State and Foreign Minister of Kazakhstan Kanat Saudabayev, during his visit to Armenia today emphasized the importance of building trust between the sides of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, and praised steps towards normalization of relations with Turkey. 

"We recognize the importance of Armenia and the South Caucasus region for security and stability in the OSCE area," he said following a meeting with Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandyan. "We sincerely hope to give a new impetus to the work of all sides involved in the complex process of resolving the problems Armenia and other countries in the region are facing."

Saudabayev said that addressing the region's protracted conflicts is one of the top priorities of the Kazakh OSCE Chairmanship, and added: "A peaceful settlement based in the first place on mutual understanding and trust between the parties to conflict is the only solution possible. In this regard, I fully support the mediation efforts of the Minsk Group Co-Chairs, and pay tribute to the confidence-building work of my Personal Representative Ambassador Andrzej Kasprzyk."

Saudabayev said he believed that shared history and similar mentality of the people of Armenia and Kazakhstan, the first ex-Soviet country to chair the Organization, as well as good relations between the heads of states will be instrumental to achieving possible progress in resolving protracted conflicts in a peaceful way.

He underscored the importance of strengthening tolerance and mutual understanding between the peoples of Azerbaijan and Armenia, and reiterated the readiness of the Kazakh OSCE Chair to contribute to the process in co-operation with all stakeholders.

The Chairperson-in-Office said open dialogue between neighbouring states was a foundation of regional stability. "We welcome the concrete steps to normalize the relations taken by Armenia and Turkey, hope to see further progress in this positive undertaking and stand ready to support efforts to restore trust between the two countries."

Later today Saudabayev will meet President Serzh Sargsyan and members of political parties, including Levon Ter-Petrosyan.

Saudabayev's visit to the South Caucasus is the first visit to the region where the OSCE has field missions. He noted the co-operation between Armenia and the Organization, including with the OSCE institutions and the Office in Yerevan, in reforming election legislation, police and judiciary, and in solving environmental problems.

Saudabayev expressed gratitude to the Armenian leadership for its participation in realizing the initiative to hold an OSCE summit in 2010.

The OSCE Chairperson was in Baku Sunday and Monday for talks with Azerbaijani authorities and political parties. He will travel to Tbilisi for talks with the Georgian counterparts on Wednesday.