Almaty meeting calls for promoting tolerance as a factor of security and stability across OSCE region

ALMATY, 12 June 2006 - Inaugurating an OSCE implementation meeting on promoting tolerance, inter-cultural, inter-religious and inter-ethnic understanding, Kazakhstan's President Nursultan Nazarbayev said that tolerance was a major factor of stability, especially in view of the process of globalization and the emerging challenges and threats that face the modern world.

He told the OSCE meeting: "Guaranteeing consent between religions and a peaceful co-existence of ethnic groups is a predominant factor of a long-lasting security."

The two-day event brought together representatives of the 55 OSCE participating States, its Institutions and field operations, the Asian and Mediterranean partners for co-operation, as well as representatives of international and non-governmental organizations.

The Special Envoy of the Chairman-in-Office, Pierre Chevalier, said: "Tolerance is part of the 'core business' of a security organization like the OSCE, and the Belgian Chairmanship is very committed to furthering the Organization's activities in this field."

He said Kazakhstan, located at the crossroads of two continents and home to citizens from 130 different ethnic groups and 45 confessions, was an example of a peaceful multiethnic state, adding: "Central Asia has always acted as a crossroads for the movement of people, goods, and - most importantly - ideas between Europe, the Middle East, South Asia, and East Asia for centuries."

"Identity is more than just language, religion, nationality, ethnic belonging and culture. It is also made up of customs, knowledge and values, which are often shared by people of diverse religious, national, ethnic, cultural or linguistic backgrounds," added Mr. Chevalier.

"As members of the OSCE family we share the same values and are committed to promoting a climate of confidence and respect among peoples. The aim of this meeting is to underline the importance of human rights, fundamental freedoms and democratic institutions in creating a context for inter-cultural, inter-religious and inter-ethnic understanding."

Participants at the meeting discussed the different approaches for promoting understanding between different communities, and said educational and cultural initiatives provide a fertile breeding ground for inter-cultural, inter-religious and interethnic understanding. They also stressed the importance of developing an appropriate legal framework to curtail manifestations of intolerance and said the OSCE was in position to contribute to this, but the implementation of such legislation was in the hands of national governments.

Among other OSCE participants at the meeting were Secretary General Marc Perrin de Brichambaut, ODIHR Director Christian Strohal, the High Commissioner on National Minorities Rolf Ekeus, the Representative on Freedom of the Media Miklos Haraszti, as well as the Personal Representatives of the Chairman-in-Office: on Combating Racism, Xenophobia and Discrimination, also focusing on Intolerance and Discrimination against Christians and Members of Other Religions, Anastasia Crickley, on Combating anti-Semitism, Professor Gert Weisskirchen, and on Combating Intolerance and Discrimination against Muslims, Ambassador Omur Orhun.