Kazakh civil servants, students learn about OSCE Centre's activities

AKTAU, 9 April 2009 - Seminars organized by the OSCE Centre in Astana and the Kazakh foreign ministry to promote awareness about the OSCE's activities and Kazakhstan's commitments and priorities ahead of the country's 2010 OSCE Chairmanship started in the city of Aktau on the Caspian seashore today.

The two-day seminars are for executive and legislative authorities of Aktau city, as well as students from the local university. They will discuss the history, achievements and prospects of the OSCE, as well as Kazakhstan's focus areas for its Chairmanship in 2010. Additionally, the Centre will present the Kazakh translation of the Helsinki Final Act and the Charter of Paris for a New Europe.

"The OSCE Centre in Astana supports Kazakhstan's government and civil society in promoting OSCE values and commitments in all fields of security," said Jeannette Kloetzer, the Deputy Head of the OSCE Centre.

Arman Abikenov, Deputy Director of OSCE Department at the Kazakh Foreign Ministry, added:

"The future Chairmanship priorities will be focused on strengthening the Organization and its institutions, as well as co-operation with all participating States."

The seminars are part of an OSCE Centre initiative to raise awareness about the OSCE and its co-operation with Kazakhstan. Similar seminars for civil servants and students were held in Atyrau, which is home to many oil and gas companies, on 6 and 7 April.

The publication of the translations of the two OSCE documents is the outcome a joint project by the OSCE Centre, the Kazakh Foreign Ministry and the German government. Copies of the translations will be given to universities, colleges and public libraries.