ARMENIA TO ASSIST KAZAKHSTAN WITHIN THE FRAMEWORK OF OSCE

Aysor
Feb 16 2010
Armenia

OSCE Chairman-in-Office, Kazakhstan’s Secretary of State and Foreign
Minister Kanat Saudabayev and Armenia’s Foreign Minister Edward
Nalbandian have held a meeting today, which was followed by a press
conference where diplomats told journalists some meeting’s details.

Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian said a range of items had been
discussed, including Armenia-Kazakhstan cooperation, process of
settlement to the Karabakh conflict, cooperation in the framework
of OSCE projects, Armenia-Turkey reconciliation, and highlights on
regional security.

"Armenia and Kazakhstan are members of the CSTO, so it’s natural
that our approaches and positions over the very wide range of
international and regional highlights jump together and are close,"
said Edward Nalbandian adding that they also had focused on issues
of strengthening of Armenia-Kazakhstan relations.

"As you know, Armenia has supported Kazakhstan’s candidacy for the
OSCE chairmanship. And now we are effectively cooperating within the
framework of OSCE.

"We’ve voiced once more that Armenia is ready to assist Kazakhstan
in realization of OSCE chairmanship programmes, based on following
highlights – improvement of the OSCE activities’ efficiency, and
strengthening of the safety and stability in the Caucasus," said
Edward Nalbandian adding that he had presented to his counterpart
Kanat Saudabayev development of the process of negotiations and told
him about efforts made by Armenia in moving towards the peaceful
settlement to the conflict.

Kanat Saudabayev, in his part, pointed that Armenia had also supported
Kazakhstan’s proposal to hold OSCE summit. Kazakhstan’s key priority
within the framework of OSCE is the issue of solving of the long-drawn
conflicts, he said.

"That is why my first visit as OSCE Chairman-in-Office I’ve paid to
this region," said Kanat Saudabayev.

"We’ve held quite open talks; it was very important to me to see the
whole range of issues."