Azerbaijan, Baku, Dec. 3 /Trend, E.Ostapenko/
Latvian President Valdis Zatlers congratulates the people of Kazakhstan on the success of the summit in Astana, and offers to more often bring together the leaders of the OSCE, says the Kazakh Liter newspaper writes.
According to the head of the Latvian state, the summit in Astana, Central Asia is a real success of the entire international community, which assumes a global significance. "I have not been in Astana for two years, and large changes have occurred in this city," Zatlers said in an interview with the Liter newspaper during the OSCE Summit.
According to him, the gaps between the summits of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe are very long. "10 years are a too long break. It seems to me that five years are an enough break between such a significant events, Zatlers said. - We live in the 21st century, when the necessary dynamics of thinking, the dynamics of action are needed."
OSCE summit was held on Dec. 1-2 in the Kazakh capital after the 11-year hiatus. The last time the heads of state and government of the OSCE met in 1999 in Istanbul. Given that the OSCE is an advisory body, the only way to discuss the urgent issues is top conduct such summits.
After more than eight-hour discussions, the participants nevertheless agreed upon the final declaration of the summit, which, however, left dissatisfied the representatives of many member countries. Participants could not agree upon an action plan for future activities of the OSCE regarding protracted conflicts in the former Soviet Union area.
In January, the annual OSCE chairmanship will shift from Kazakhstan to Lithuania. Regarding Lithuania's chairmanship, Valdis Zatlers spoke a little jokingly: "It will bring some advantages - no need to travel far", adding more seriously that the experience of Kazakhstan "is necessary and it must be shifted to the OSCE participating states."
According to Zatlers, Kazakhstan in its development has reached stability and has become confident in understanding with the neighboring countries. "We must understand that in the 21st century there is responsibility not only for yourself, but also for neighbors, the global regions," said the President.
Holding in Astana such a large-scale event like the OSCE summit during the Kazakh chairmanship was an important moment in the country's political life. One of the main topics of discussion at the summit was the security in the OSCE countries.
The next chairman of the organization - Lithuania - has already pledged that it would continue to pay particular attention to resolving protracted conflicts during its chairmanship in 2011.