OSCE Chairman-in-Office visits Central Asia

OSLO, 27 September 1999 - OSCE Chairman-in-Office, Foreign Minister Knut Vollebaek of Norway, will be visiting the Central Asian OSCE member states, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan, from 28 September to 4 October. He will meet the political leaders of the countries and have separate talks with the ombudsman representatives, human rights institutions and NGOs.

During the talks, he will explore ways of strengthening co-operation between the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) and the Central Asian partners. He will stress the importance of continuing the democratization process in these countries. The building of democratic institutions is essential to future stability and closer involvement on the part of the international community, as well as the promotion of economic development. The OSCE is actively involved in facilitating free and fair elections in which all political parties are given the opportunity to present candidates.

The Chairman-in-Office is concerned about the recent developments in Southern Kyrgyzstan and the effects they might have on security and stability of the whole reason. The OSCE will continue to pay special attention to further developments in this part of the region.

During the talks, the Chairman-in-Office will also discuss issues related to economic and environmental questions, as well as challenges facing these countries and the region as a whole. He will discuss the possibilities for improving regional co-operation. He will propose better use of the OSCE as a contact forum for enhancing the total involvement of the international community in this region. The OSCE Chairman-in-Office has established a separate fund for increasing OSCE involvement in Central Asia. Norway has contributed $250,000 (US) to the fund.