OSCE Chairman's Personal Envoy to strengthen relationship between Central Asia and OSCE

THE HAGUE/VIENNA, 19 May 2003 - The OSCE Chairman's Personal Envoy for Central-Asia, former Finnish President Martti Ahtisaari, embarked yesterday on a visit to four Central Asian states to work on improving the constructive relationship between the OSCE and Central Asia.

As Personal Envoy of the OSCE Chairman-in-Office, Netherlands Foreign Minister Jaap de Hoop Scheffer, Mr. Ahtisaari, during his official visit to Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan will emphasize the need for increased co-operation and involvement in OSCE activities.

In discussions with both the authorities and representatives of non-governmental organizations and civil society, Mr. Ahtisaari will focus on the inter-relationship between the security dimensions of the OSCE (politico-military, economic/environmental and human).

He will stress the importance of the fight against terrorism and trafficking in arms, drugs and human beings and call for building stronger institutions in the areas of the rule of law, democratization, human rights, and economic development.

Another important issue that Mr. Ahtisaari intends to address during his talks, is the need for enhanced international co-operation and development, while he will attempt to promote dialogue in and between the Central Asian countries.

Having started his trip in Bishkek and Osh in Kyrgyzstan, where he will remain until the evening of 20 May, Mr. Ahtisaari will continue to Tashkent in Uzbekistan where he will be from 21-24 May. After Tashkent, he will travel to Dushanbe in Tajikistan (24-26 May). He intends to conclude his trip in Ashgabad, Turkmenistan envisaged from 26-29 May.

This is Mr. Ahtisaari's third and most comprehensive trip to Central Asia.

For more information about this itinerary, please contact the Heads of the OSCE Centres in Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and/or Turkmenistan.