OSCE Chairperson meets Belarus President, welcomes country's engagement in OSCE efforts to address new challenges, strengthen Organization

MINSK, 30 March 2010 - The OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, Kazakh Secretary of State and Foreign Minister Kanat Saudabayev said in Minsk today that Kazakhstan and Belarus were uniquely positioned, given their shared history and transition experience, to contribute to strengthening the Organization's work.

"The overarching goal of Kazakhstan's OSCE Chairmanship is to strengthen our common organization and increase its effectiveness and usefulness to the 56 participating States," he said.

Saudabayev noted that Belarus makes an important contribution to addressing security challenges such as trafficking in human beings and illegal migration, as well as with ensuring border security. He stressed the important role of the country in the economic and environmental dimension of the Organization's work, as chair of the economic and environmental committee of the Vienna-based OSCE Permanent Council, and the host country that ensured successful conduct of the Second Preparatory Conference to the 18th Economic and Environmental Forum. This conference was the first OSCE-wide event to take place in Belarus.

Following his meeting with President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko, Minister Saudabayev emphasized Belarus's positive engagement in the OSCE and expressed gratitude for the support for Kazakhstan's initiative to hold an OSCE summit in 2010. He emphasized that the Organization stood ready to continue co-operation and provide assistance as requested.

"My meetings here were constructive and fruitful, and we had interesting discussions on how we can further deepen our partnership, also through the OSCE Office in Minsk, which works in the country in accordance with its mandate and remains an important tool for efficient co-operation between the OSCE and Belarus."

Earlier today Saudabayev met Foreign Minister Sergei Martynov, during which he extended to his counterpart an invitation to the informal Ministerial Meeting in Almaty in July.

During the visit, Saudabayev also met the Chairperson of the Parliament, Vladimir Andreychenko, and representatives of political parties and civil society.

The OSCE Chairperson-in-Office will be in Kyiv tomorrow to meet Ukrainian government leaders and then will travel to Moldova for meetings with the Moldovan government and Transdniestrian leadership on Thursday.