Intensifying OSCE and CSTO co-operation mutually beneficial, OSCE Secretary General says

DUSHANBE, 4 October 2007 - The OSCE is determined to continue its pragmatic co-operation with the Collective Security Treaty Organization to the benefit of both groups, OSCE Secretary General Marc Perrin de Brichambaut said in a message to the CSTO's Council of Ministers of Foreign Affairs today.

"It is very much symbolic that our two organizations should come together here in Tajikistan. Central Asia is a region of significant and growing attention for the OSCE, and a region where the OSCE and CSTO have the greatest potential for constructive interaction," said the Head of the OSCE Centre in Dushanbe, Ambassador Vladimir Pryakhin, reading the message on behalf the Secretary General.

"Both of our organizations support the efforts of Central Asian states to secure and manage their borders, and to combat terrorism and drug trafficking. I believe these are promising areas for closer OSCE-CSTO co-operation."

Perrin de Brichambaut will be attending part of the meeting as an observer. His visit to the meeting marks the first time the OSCE has been invited to the CSTO's Council of Ministers of Foreign Affairs and its Council of Collective Security. The agenda for his Dushanbe visit also includes a range of bilateral meetings with CSTO member states.

His message highlighted that the seven countries that make up CSTO all are active OSCE participating States, and that CSTO Secretary General Nikolay Bordyuzha takes part in the OSCE Ministerial Council and other OSCE events.

"Our Organization needs your continued commitment and constructive support if we are to succeed in coping with the many challenges on our common agenda," it said.

The OSCE has field presences in six of the seven CSTO states that work closely with host governments to assist in areas such as police training, de-mining, environmental security, rule of law and the conduct of elections that fulfil international standards for democracy.