KAZAKHSTAN PRESIDING IN OSCE INTENDS TO STIMULATE NAGORNO KARABAKH SETTLEMENT PROCESS AS FAR AS POSSIBLE

Noyan Tapan
Feb 16, 2010

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 16, NOYAN TAPAN. One of OSCE’s most important
priorities is solution of so-called protracted conflicts, thus
Kazakhstan’s State Secretary-Foreign Minister Kanat Saudabayev on
the post of OSCE Chairman-in-Office paid his first visit just to the
South Caucasian region. He stated it at a February 16 press conference.

He mentioned that Kazakhstan as a country presiding in OSCE intends to
stimulate the Nagorno Karabakh settlement process as far as possible.

According to K. Saudabayev, the conflict inflicts an irreparable
damage to stable, successful development of peoples involved in it
to and regional countries. "Thus we have cautious optimism concerning
the prospects of this situation," the OSCE Chairman-in-Office said.

The meeting of the OSCE Chairman-in-Office with RA Foreign Minister
Edward Nalbandian preceded the press conference. The latter declared
that Armenia and Kazakhstan continue to successfully develop
cooperation in the political, economic and cultural spheres. He also
mentioned that the two countries are members of the Collective Security
Treaty, therefore their approaches concerning a wide range of regional,
international issues coincide or are close.

Issues related to further development and deepening of
Armenia-Kazakhstan relations, as well as a number of regional
and international issues were discussed at the meeting held in an
atmosphere of mutual understanding. The dynamics of Nagorno Karabakh
settlement negotiations process and efforts Armenia makes in this
issue were presented to the OSCE Chairman-in-Office, thoughts were also
exchanged on the normalization process of Armenia-Turkey relations.