OSCE incumbent President to visit South Caucasus in 2010

January 7, 2010 - 18:05 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net -
As a state taking over OSCE presidency, Kazakhstan has drawn up a schedule of multilateral and bilateral consultations, envisaging the involvement of all organization member states, the country's Foreign Ministry says in a release.

"Regular consultations with the European Union, Council of Europe, Conference on Interaction and Confidence-Building Measures in Asia (CICA), CIS, NATO, CSTO and other international organizations will be held in Vienna and other capital towns of OSCE partner countries. Experience proves the significance of such approach in terms of approximating different positions on key agenda issues, coordinating measures and avoiding repetitions," says the statement.

According to the Ministry's release, Kazakh Foreign Minister and Secretary of State Kanat Saudabayev, organization's incumbent President, is scheduled to visit the South Caucasus, Balkans¸ Eastern Europe and Central Asia in 2010. Visits will be aimed at mitigating crisis situations, settling conflicts or ensuring coordination of state parties' efforts in specific spheres.

On January 1, 2010, Kazakhstan took over OSCE presidency, replacing Greece.

OSCE

The world\'s biggest regional organization dealing with security issues, OSCE (Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe) unites 56 countries situated in North America, Europe and Central Asia.\r\n\r\nIts member state are: Albania, Andorra, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belgium, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France Great Britain, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxemburg, Macedonia, Malta¸ Moldova, Monaco Montenegro, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Russia, Roumania, San-Marino, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden Switzerland, Tajikistan, Turkey, Turkmenistan, United States, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Vatican.\r\n\r\nPartner countries include: Afghanistan, Algeria, Egypt, Israel, Japan, Jordan, Marocco, Mongolia, South Korea, Thailand, Tunisia.\r\n\r\nArmenia became an OSCE member state on January 30, 1992.