Saudabayev, Miliband Discuss OSCE Agenda, Afghanistan
Kazakhstan’s Secretary of State - Minister of Foreign Affairs Kanat Saudabayev discussed prospects of further strengthening the Kazakh-British cooperation in bilateral and multilateral formats in a January 8 telephone conversation with Foreign Secretary David Miliband.
Mr Miliband noted the dynamic development of bilateral cooperation, and congratulated Kazakhstan on the assumption of chairmanship of the Organization for Security and Cooperation Europe (OSCE) on January 1.
Having stressed London’s interest in close cooperation with Astana in realization of the agenda of Kazakhstan’s chairmanship of the Organization, as well the unique character of the OSCE and its universal approach to security, Mr Miliband expressed support for ensuring a balance in all three dimensions of the OSCE, including military-political, economic-ecological and humanitarian directions.
Both sides stressed the importance of maintaining various efforts to resolve the so-called “protracted conflicts” within the OSCE which are mainly attributable to the post-Soviet space (Nagorno-Karabakh, Transdniestria and South Ossetia). President Nursultan Nazarbayev’s knowledge of history and status of these conflicts, and the respect he enjoys in the CIS and on behalf of participants in those conflicts, were said to give grounds to hope that Astana would be able to give a new impetus to their resolution as OSCE Chairman-in-Office.
Mr Miliband said the British government supported Kazakhstan’s choice of tolerance as one of its most important priorities of the OSCE chairmanship. He believes Kazakhstan’s experience of maintaining and strengthening inter-ethnic and inter-religious harmony in its “cosmopolitan society” could be relevant for the promotion of tolerance within OSCE.
Kanat Saudabayev and David Miliband further noted the importance of continuing efforts of the international community to stabilize Afghanistan. A January 28 international conference on Afghanistan in London with the participation of more than 60 countries should become an important forum for discussion and development of specific measures of assistance to this state. The conference will focus on strengthening military security, the measures on assistance to economic development of Afghanistan and participation of regional neighbors in its stabilization. Secretary of State - Minister of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan Kanat Saudabayev accepted David Miliband’s invitation to participate in the conference in his capacity as OSCE Chairman-in-Office.
The Embassy of Kazakhstan
