OSCE Chair, on visit to Central Asia, discussed OSCE engagement, transnational threats

KYIV, 18 October 2013 – The OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Leonid Kozhara concluded today his visit to Central Asia that included Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan.

Key topics of his meetings with the leadership of the five countries were regional security issues and OSCE engagement with Central Asia. The OSCE Chairperson discussed these matters at the highest level, with the President of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov, President of Kyrgyzstan Almazbek Atambayev, President of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon, President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov.

Meetings with the Foreign Minister of Uzbekistan Abdulaziz Kamilov, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan Erlan Idrissov, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Kyrgyzstan Erlan Abdyldayev, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Tajikistan Hamrohon Zarifi and Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan Rashid Meredov were also held during the visit.

During the visit Kozhara also met with leaderships of the parliaments, representatives of civil societies, and staff of the OSCE field presences in the region.

In Astana, following his meeting with the Foreign Minister, the OSCE Chairperson stressed the importance of the OSCE’s efforts to address new challenges and threats, in particular in the framework of the Helsinki +40 process.

OSCE Chairperson-in-Office also discussed collective response to transnational threats in Central Asia and the OSCE region as a whole, with a special focus on potential challenges stemming from and around Afghanistan after the transition in 2014.

In his meetings, Leonid Kozhara highlighted the important role the OSCE field presences in the Central Asian countries play in promoting the OSCE priorities and enhancing co-operation of the host countries with the Organization, and said these efforts deserved appreciation.

OSCE has field presences in all five Central Asian countries, including Project Co-ordinator in Uzbekistan, Office in Tajikistan, and Centres in Bishkek, Ashgabat and Astana.

“I am confident that continued constructive co-operation aimed at supporting the host countries in promoting OSCE principles and commitments will be beneficial for the overall security and stability in Central Asia,” he said.

The Chair concluded his Central Asia visit in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, where took part in a high-level conference on energy security and sustainability in the OSCE region organized by the Ukrainian Chairmanship of the OSCE and the Government of Turkmenistan.