OSCE CHAIRPERSON TO VISIT KAZAKHSTAN, KYRGYZSTAN
VILNIUS, 25 February 2011 – The OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, Lithuanian Foreign Minister Audronius Ažubalis, will travel to Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan next week to discuss OSCE work with both countries and the Lithuanian Chairmanship’s priorities for 2011.
Ažubalis will be in Kazakhstan for two days beginning 28 February. He will meet the President of Kazakhstan, Nursultan Nazarbayev, Foreign Minister Kanat Saudabayev and other high-level officials, as well as representatives of political parties and civil society in Astana and Almaty. They will discuss OSCE co-operation in Kazakhstan as well as the follow-up process to the Astana Commemorative Declaration, signed by the OSCE Heads of State and Government at the OSCE Summit in Astana in December 2010.Media opportunities will follow the meetings with President Nazarbayev and Minister Saudabayev in Astana on 28 February. For more information please contact the OSCE Centre in Astana’s Andrew Offenbacher, +7 701 727 97 66, or Aidar Botagarov, +7 701 910 88 73.
On 2 March, Ažubalis will be in Osh, Kyrgyzstan, to meet the Governor of Osh province, Sooronbay Jeenbekov and the Mayor of Osh, Melis Myrzakmatov, as well as representatives of civil society and the local community, and to visit the OSCE Field Office in Osh. He will also meet with experts from the OSCE Community Security Initiative, which aims to support the local police in implementing democratic principles in their work.
On 3 March, the Chairperson will be in Bishkek to meet government leaders, including Prime Minister Almazbek Atambaev, Foreign Minister Ruslan Kazakbaev and other high-level officials, as well as representatives of political parties, civil society and the diplomatic community, to discuss OSCE support to Kyrgyzstan.
A news conference with Ažubalis is planned for 18:00 on 3 March at the Hyatt Hotel, Akyn Hall, in Bishkek. For more information please contact Svetlana Levina, OSCE Centre in Bishkek, +996 775 97 03 22.
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