Three months into my term as Chairman-in-Office of the OSCE one of our priorities was facilitating progress in ending the frozen conflicts in Moldova-Transdniestria, Nagorno-Karabakh and Georgia, Karel De Gucht, the OSCE chairman-in-office, also the Beligum Foreign Minister, stated, according to the Apirl issue of OSCE magazine.
Several visits to the region and high-level meetings have taken place, aimed at encouraging the parties to continue their dialogue and to contribute constructively to conflict settlement, Trend quoted de Gucht.
We should always be prepared to tackle new challenges, such as those stemming from the energy debate sparked off early in the year, and the controversy regarding the publication of cartoons in some OSCE countries. I stand ready to contribute as best I can towards a positive outcome to every one of these issues, highlights of which will be featured regularly in the OSCE Magazine, the Belgium FM underlined
de Gucht toured the South Caucasus region late this January.
Belgium took chairmanship at the OSCE from the Slovenia, while from 1 January 2007 this country is to hand in the office to Spain.