Kazakhstan's 2010 OSCE Chairmanship programme focus of Almaty conference

ALMATY, 28 May 2010 - A conference to discuss the initial results and future plans of Kazakhstan's 2010 OSCE Chairmanship was held in Almaty today.

The event was organized by the Kazakhstan Institute for Strategic Studies and al-Farabi Kazakh National University with support from the OSCE Centre in Astana.

Government officials, local and international experts, representatives from diplomatic missions, civil society and academia and journalists discussed Kazakhstan's efforts as the OSCE Chair to address today's security challenges. They debated ways of maintaining security and stability in Central Asia, facilitating prevention and possible resolution of protracted conflicts, promoting tolerance and non-discrimination as well as strengthening trust and confidence among participating States.

"The OSCE's work is based on the fundamental principles of indivisible, comprehensive and co-operative security. This meeting provided an interesting forum to discuss Kazakhstan's efforts to reaffirm these key principles and enhance dialogue on the future of security in the OSCE region," said Jeannette Kloetzer, the Deputy Head of the OSCE Centre.

Senator Kuanysh Sultanov, a member of Kazakhstan's parliament, added: "Kazakhstan, as the first post-Soviet country to hold the OSCE Chairmanship, is in our view providing a new impetus to the work of the Organization. In an era when the world faces new threats and challenges, Kazakhstan's Chairmanship aims to ensure security and stability throughout the entire OSCE region by taking a broad and balanced approach to the politico-military, economic-environmental and human dimensions."

The conference is the latest in a series of roundtable meetings, academic conferences, lectures and publications initiated in 2008 aimed at raising awareness in Kazakhstan of the Organization's principles and commitments and supporting the government in its Chairmanship role.