January 12, 2010 - 21:12 AMT
OSCE Permanent Council session in Vienna to cover protracted conflicts' issues


The new OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, Kazakhstan's Secretary of State and Foreign Minister Kanat Saudabayev, will outline Kazakhstan's priorities for the Organization in 2010 in a speech to be delivered on Thursday in Vienna.

Saudabayev will speak at a session of the Permanent Council, one of the Organization's main regular decision-making bodies. Expected highlights of the address include giving new impetus to OSCE efforts to stabilize the situation in areas of protracted conflicts, and to seek their resolution; developing international transport corridors; and promoting tolerance and mutual understanding.

Before the speech, Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev will address the Permanent Council in a videotaped speech.

Kazakhstan took over the one-year Chairmanship of the Organization on 1 January, succeeding Greece. Lithuania will follow in 2011.