OSCE CHAIRPERSON MEETS ARMENIAN LEADERSHIP

Astana, 17 February: The OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, Secretary of State and Foreign Minister of Kazakhstan, Kanat Saudabayev, visited Armenia yesterday and emphasized the importance of building trust between the sides in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. He also praised steps towards the normalization of relations with Turkey. "We recognize the importance of Armenia and the South Caucasus region for security and stability in the OSCE area," he said after a meeting with Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandyan. "We hope to give a new impetus to the work of all sides involved in the complex process of resolving the problems Armenia and other countries in the region." Mr Saudabayev said that “There is no alternative to a peaceful solution.”

The OSCE Chairperson-in-Office said open dialogue between neighboring states was the foundation of regional stability: "We welcome the concrete steps to normalize the relations taken by Armenia and Turkey, hope to see further progress in this positive undertaking and stand ready to support the restoration of trust between the two countries."

Later today Mr Saudabayev will meet President Serzh Sargsyan and members of political parties, including Levon Ter-Petrosyan.

Mr Saudabayev's visit to the South Caucasus is the first visit to the region where the OSCE has field missions. He noted the co-operation between Armenia and the Organization, in reforming election legislation, the police and judiciary, and in solving environmental problems.

The OSCE Chairperson was in Baku on Monday for talks with Azerbaijani authorities and political parties. He travels to Tbilisi for talks with the Georgian counterparts today.