OSCE Chairperson-in-Office calls for effective co-operation with OSCE parliamentarians to address protracted conflicts, regional security challenges

VIENNA, 18 February 2010 - Strengthening co-operation with OSCE parliamentarians is an important component in tackling regional challenges such as protracted conflicts and the European arms control regime, said the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, Kazakh Secretary of State and Foreign Minister Kanat Saudabayev, in Vienna today.

Speaking at the start of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly Winter Meeting, Saudabayev said parliamentarians played a valuable part in the dialogue between participating States, and noted that Kazakhstan would host a key parliamentary forum on the OSCE and Eurasia in Almaty from 14 to 16 May.

He also emphasized their role in election monitoring - most recently in Ukraine - as well as in efforts towards resolution of protracted conflicts in the South Caucasus and with the Transdniestrian settlement process.

"I would like to call on parliamentarians to make good use of parliamentarian diplomacy to overcome the lack of trust between states and people. Your words and convictions will help all people on all sides of conflict to understand the importance of overcoming confrontation and working toward co-operation and a peaceful existence," he said.

Earlier this week Saudabayev visited the South Caucasus, where he met leaders in Azerbaijan, Armenia and Georgia.

On the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, Saudabayev said: "We are working on a Chairmanship roadmap to support and strengthen the peace-building efforts of all sides of the conflict."

The Chairperson-in-Office emphasized his support to efforts under the OSCE to maintain the European arms control regime and confidence- and security-building measures. "We hope that in 2010 there will be progress in adopting an agreement in this area," he said.

Saudabayev said consensus among OSCE participating States on the importance of the 1999 Vienna Document was a positive sign. He added that strengthening the Document, which obliges the participating States to share information on armed forces and military activities, was a priority, and could be a theme of the OSCE summit proposed by Kazakhstan.

"An OSCE Summit is one of the key initiatives of Kazakhstan's Chairmanship, and a decision on the Vienna Document could be considered as a substantive addition to the agenda of a Summit," he said.