Special session dedicated to Kazakh chairmanship in OSCE in 2010 held in Vienna

VIENNA. February 20. KAZINFORM /Kenzhebolat Zholdybai/ A special session dedicated to the presentation of the course of preparation for the Kazakh chairmanship in the OSCE in 2010 has been held within the Winter Meeting of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly; Kazinform reports.

Kazakh Senate Speaker Kassym-Zhomart Tokayev made a report at the presentation. The Speaker informed of the priority tasks of our chairmanship in the OSCE and acquainted the participants with main directions of ?Path to Europe? state program for 2009-2011, which was initiated by Kazakhstan?s President Nursultan Nazarbayev. K.Tokayev emphasized that the program is aimed at extension of the political and economic cooperation, attraction of investments and technologies and growth of the people?s welfare. This program is designed to bring our relations with the European countries to the level of strategic partnership. K.Tokayev noted that Kazakhstan considers its upcoming chairmanship in the OSCE as an opportunity to give a new breath to interaction of the OSCE member states. He said that the The strategy of Kazakhstan as the OSCE chairman continues the principles of cooperation, that we follow since our country has gained independence: holding the constructive well-balanced dialog with all members of the world community on the basis of confidence and mutual understanding. Kazakhstan will continue development of the Organization?s activity in three dimensions ? humanitarian, economic-ecological and military-political. The Senate?s Chairman told about the specific measures taken by Kazakhstan for liberalization of socio-political life, development of democratic institutions, improvement of the national legislation based on the European experience. In particular, he informed that the Kazakh Parliament adopted amendments to the Laws ?On elections?, ?On political parties?, ?On mass media? and on local self-government. K.Tokayev informed of the Kazakhstan?s activity in the sphere of provision of international and interfaith accord that is recognized as one of the most important achievements of our country in the humanitarian sphere. He noted that our country is ready to share experience in keeping international and interfaith consent for achievement of the OSCE goals in the humanitarian sphere. He stressed the successful contribution of Kazakhstan to deepening mutual understanding between religions through the Congress of the Leaders of World and Traditional Religions, initiated by Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev. He noted that the forum, held in Astana beginning from 2003, received recognition and support of the leaders of main world confessions and international organizations, working in the field of dialog of civilizations and cultures. The third Session of the Leaders of the World and Traditional Religions will be held on July 1-2, 2009 in Astana with the participation and technical assistance of the UN. The theme of the coming forum is ?Role of religious leaders in the establishment of peace, based on tolerance, mutual comprehension and cooperation?. K.Tokayev invited the participants of the annual seminar of the OSCE Mediterranean Partners to take part in the Session. He laid emphasis on the fact that our country entered the Group of Friends of the Alliance of Civilizations, initiated by the Governments of Turkey and Spain. On the proposal of the Kazakh President the UN General Assembly announced 2010 the International Year of Cultures? Rapprochement. The participants were also informed on Kazakhstan's measures and approaches on realization of the idea of the dialogue in ?Muslim World ? the West? format, aimed at resolving economic and ecological problems, problems in the field of environmental protection, maintenance of energy balance, provision of military-political security. As K.Tokayev said, Kazakhstan will keep on following the policy of provision of stability in the Central Asian region and whole OSCE space. In conclusion K.Tokayev noted that Kazakhstan has advanced experience in managing a number of regional organizations. As the future OSCE chairman Kazakhstan intends to strengthen the role of the Organization in the dialog between the Euro-Atlantic and Eurasian regions.