OSCE Chairperson and Minister of Foreign and European Affairs and Trade Ian Borg met the President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev in the country’s capital city Astana, on Tuesday, during the first engagement of a three-day OSCE official visit to Central Asia.
Minister Borg extended his sympathies to the people of Kazakhstan, following the devastating flooding in several parts of the country in recent months. “We commend the resilience and strength shown by the people of Kazakhstan,” he told President Tokayev, as he noted that “these phenomena are another grim reminder that we all need to step up our efforts to strengthen the resilience of our communities to such natural disasters throughout the OSCE area, including Central Asia”.
The OSCE Chairperson underlined the important role of the OSCE, emphasising that “regional cooperation is key to stability and security in Central Asia and beyond”.
In a joint press conference with Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Murat Nurtleu, the Chair-in-Office said that “Kazakhstan is leading by example through its efforts to maintain peace and security, such as hosting talks between the Foreign Ministers of Armenia and Azerbaijan on the preparation of a peace treaty. In terms of climate change, I commend Kazakhstan’s active engagement during the OSCE High-level Climate Change Conference held in Malta a few days ago, and its initiative to host the UN Regional Climate Summit in 2026”.
Minister Borg also pledged the OSCE’s readiness to continue supporting Kazakhstan in the implementation of the recently adopted plans and legislation to improve human rights, rule of law, women’s rights and children’s safety.
In Kazakhstan, the OSCE Chairperson also met the Chairperson of the Senate Maulen Ashimbayev and the Chairperson of the Constitutional Court Elvira Azimova.
At the OSCE Programme Office in Astana, the Maltese OSCE Chairpersonship delegation led by Minister Borg also held talks with civil society representatives. “We value and promote the crucial role that a vibrant civil society plays in upholding human rights, fundamental freedoms and democracy,” he affirmed.
The OSCE Chairpersonship’s visit to Central Asia will continue on Wednesday and Thursday.
Malta began its 12-month Chairpersonship of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) in January, under the theme “Strengthening Resilience, Enhancing Security”, after it was unanimously elected to head this organisation for the first time in its history, in November 2023.
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