OSCE Chairperson welcomes Turkmenistan's role in promoting stability in Central Asia

ASHGABAT, 23 June 2010 - The OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, Kazakhstan's Secretary of State and Foreign Minister Kanat Saudabayev, in his meetings today with the President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdymukhammedov, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Rashid Meredov, and Speaker of the Parliament Akdja Nurberdiyeva, commended the Government of Turkmenistan for promoting stability in Central Asia and the whole OSCE area.

They discussed the situation in Kyrgyzstan, environmental security, engagement with Afghanistan and ways to work together in all three dimensions of security, the politico-military aspects, the economic and environmental and the human aspects.

Following the meetings Saudabayev said: "The Kazakh OSCE Chairmanship is committed to preventing escalation of tensions in Kyrgyzstan, and is ready to help the country with post-conflict rehabilitation. The OSCE is working together with the international community to help Kyrgyzstan."

Energy security is an issue which concerns all Central Asian countries and Turkmenistan has taken an important role in advancing the OSCE dialogue on energy security, hosting a conference on this subject in Ashgabat in May 2010.

Engagement with Afghanistan and a stronger OSCE role in stabilizing this country is an initiative of Kazakhstan's Chairmanship. "I welcome Turkmenistan's support and constructive co-operation between Turkmenistan and the OSCE to improve border security between Afghanistan and Turkmenistan and foster cross border co-operation." said Saudabayev.

Saudabayev thanked Turkmenistan's side for their support for Kazakhstan's priorities during its Chairmanship, especially holding an OSCE Summit this year. He also thanked them for fruitful co-operation with the OSCE Centre and offered to work together on new proposals for expanding this co-operation.

Tomorrow, Saudabayev will address a high-level international conference on disarmament in Central Asia and the Caspian region, discussing the international legal framework for disarmament, the role of international organizations in addressing disarmament issues in global and regional dimensions.

These issues will continue to be high on the agenda of the OSCE and Central Asian countries and will be part of the informal meeting of OSCE Foreign Ministers in Almaty on 16 and 17 July. "Kazakhstan will continue to play an active role furthering OSCE's contribution to ensuring stability and security in our region, and Kazakhstan's President Nursultan Nazarbayev proposal to hold an OSCE Summit this year is an important initiative in this regard," concluded Saudabayev.

The OSCE, with its Centre in Ashgabat, which has been working in the country since 1999, is committed to working with Turkmenistan on all aspects of the security spectrum.