Chairmanship in OSCE and upcoming December Summit in Astana significantly improved image of Kazakhstan in Europe

ANA. November 1. KAZINFORM /Meiram Baigarin/ In view of the upcoming OSCE Summit 'Kazinform' National Information Agency disseminates a review of the press with the most interesting materials published in Kazakhstan and abroad on presidency of Kazakhstan in the OSCE and Astana Summit.
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On October 30 Kazakhstanskaya Pravda published an interview with President Nursultan Nazarbayev, who gave an interview to Pierre-Luc Seguillon, the author of a new book "Kazakhstan. Linchpin of Eurasia". The presentation of the book was held in the course of N. Nazarbayev's meeting with the representatives of political, business and intellectual circles and media of France during his recent visit to Paris.

Answering the question on the philosophy in politics the President said: "My principle is to unite and to guide. It outflows from historical events and their logics. For many centuries our people had to defend their independence. Our ancestors always united in the face of danger. And the question is not military force alone. There were times when language, traditions, and culture of Kazakhs were under threat. These factors are equal to life and we've saved them."

Regarding the coming OSCE Summit N. Nazarbayev noted: "A lot of new problems and challenges emerged in the "pause" between Istanbul and Astana summits. Expediency of drastic changes is unquestionable, in military-political area first of all. The system established 35 years ago by Helsinki Final Act does not meet modern realities. Problems of European security are beyond the continent's frames already.

Now the question is Euro-Atlantic and Eurasian safety. The more especially as OSCE composition essentially changed too in 20 years: the Organization admitted a dozen of new members - former soviet republics instead of one participant - the USSR. Thereby support of stability on our space is among priorities. In this light Kazakhstan pays much attention to the "Corfu Process" development."

The President expressed confidence that the summit will launch a new stage in OSCE development and hope for a fruitful dialogue.

Another article in this newspaper presents the comments by Frank Evers, Deputy Head of the Centre for OSCE Research, on the Kazakhstan's chairmanship in the OSCE. He considers that despite the doubts of some member states, Kazakh diplomats have demonstrated qualitative management during the presidency in the OSCE.

"Line of Control" is a title of an article published in the Russian Strana i Mir newspaper on October 30. The article is about the recent meeting in Georgia within the framework of the Georgian-Ossetian Incident Prevention and Response Mechanism. In his statement OSCE Chairman-in-Office, Kazakh Secretary of State and Minister of Foreign Affairs noted the importance of that meeting. He stressed that direct working contacts would enable to create conditions for gradual normalization of life of the population.

K. Saudabayev called on all the parties to act responsibly and constructively, what is especially important on the eve of the OSCE Summit in Astana.

Announcing the participation of President of the European Council Herman Van Rompuy in the Astana Summit the Information Portal Bnews.kz cited the opinion of the politician: "As OSCE Chair, Kazakhstan has a great authority in the international arena. The OSCE Summit in Astana is aimed at defining the Organization's further development. At the invitation of President Nursultan Nazarbayev I will take part in the Summit. This will be the third meeting this year. It proves that Kazakhstan and the European Union cooperate closely."

Azerbaijani information portal AZE.az on October 29 published an article entitled "Turkish Ambassador to Azerbaijan made a statement on the OSCE Summit in Astana". "Turkey hopes that at the OSCE December Summit in Astana Azerbaijan and Armenia will take serious steps to regulate the conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh", the statement reads.

In the article published on October 26 in the Russian newspaper Vremya Novostei the issue of upcoming parliamentary elections in Moldova is raised. It is noted that if upon the results of the early parliamentary elections in Moldova it is be possible to overcome the political crisis, which has been lasting for two years, it will become more substantive to discuss prospects for settling the Transnistrian conflict at the OSCE Summit in Astana in early December.

Belarusian Information Agency Novosti Belarusi informed of the President Alexander Lukashenko's visit to the Brest region, who expressed his opinion of the coming OSCE Summit. The Belarusian leader praised the efforts of the Kazakh Government that finally managed to gather all the participating countries after the Istanbul Summit. He also believes that the Organization needs reforming.

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