Kazakhstan, Astana, Jan. 10 /Trend, A.Maratov/
In the last quarter of 2011, Kazakhstan will chair the Forum for Security Cooperation of OSCE, including the work of arms control and conflict prevention in the OSCE countries.
"In 2011, Kazakhstan will have to carry out an important and responsible mission within the OSCE: from Sept. to Dec., Kazakhstan will chair the OSCE Forum for Security Cooperation (FSC)," a spokesman for Kazakhstan's Foreign Ministry Ilyas Omarov said.
The Forum is an OSCE independent body, making official decisions. It consists of permanent representatives of the participating countries and weekly conducts consultations on measures to strengthen security and stability in the OSCE countries regarding military-political issues.
Lasting for four months, the chairmanship to the Forum shifts from one country to another OSCE country in accordance with the French alphabet. Thus, from Jan. to April, it will be made by Iceland, from May to August - Italy. Kazakhstan will complete the list of chairmen of FSC in the last quarter of the year.
After completing the chairmanship to OSCE in 2010, Kazakhstan will remain in the troika during this year along with the acting chairman - Lithuania - and chairman in 2012 - Ireland.
Troika of the OSCE is a body that ensures continuity in the Organization's activities and advises the acting chairman. Chairmanship to the Forum is not directly related to membership in the "troika".
"As a member of the troika, Kazakhstan starts the chairmanship to the Contact Group on cooperation with Asian partners of the OSCE. In addition to 56 OSCE participating states, this group includes six Asian partners for cooperation - Afghanistan, Australia, Mongolia, Republic of Korea, Thailand and Japan," said Omarov.
According to him, in the Astana Declaration of the OSCE highlighted the need to enhance cooperation with partner countries. Document specifically states that "the security of the OSCE region is inextricably linked to the security of neighboring regions, especially the Mediterranean and Asia."
The basic mechanisms of cooperation with Asian and Mediterranean partners include exchange of information and debate on issues of mutual interest, as well as the opportunity to participate in missions to monitor elections and attach their staff to the number of OSCE field missions.
Astana is ready to work closely with the Lithuanian chairmanship of the OSCE and contribute to the implementation of its program in 2011, said Omarov.