Kanat Saudabayev's visit to Washington: OSCE Summit, Afghanistan's stabilization on agenda
ASTANA. February 3.KAZINFORM The program of the first day of the visit of Acting OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, Secretary of State-Minister of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan Kanat Saudabayev to Washington has included his speech behind members of the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe (Helsinki Commission) in the Congress, meetings with Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs James L. Jones, Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs William J. Burns and Special Envoy for Afghanistan and Pakistan Richard Holbrooke; the Kazakh MFA's press service reports.
In the speech K.Saudabayev stated principal approaches of Astana for the chairmanship in the OSCE, emphasizing striving for the Organization's strengthening, adherence to its principles and values. There was noted importance of further Helsinki Commission's support to President N.Nazarbayev's proposal on holding the OSCE Summit as an event, which can give new dynamism of this largest regional Organization in the world. As the US representatives emphasized, the proposal on Summit deserves attentive consideration and implementation. Besides, there was announced that the US Congress members sent special messages of the Summit support to the two countries' presidents - Barack Obama and Nursultan Nazarbayev.
At the meetings in the White House and Department of State there were discussed the prospects of further development and strengthening the Kazakh-US strategic partnership, including in the context of Kazakhsatn's chairmanship in the OSCE. The sides were at one thinking that the upcoming President N.Nazarbayev's visit to Washington in April at the invitation of President Barack Obama for participation in the global summit on nuclear security will give a new impulse to the whole complex of bilateral cooperation. At the meeting with James L. Jones there were considered the issues of strengthening cooperation of the two countries in the sphere of Afghanistan's stabilization, which is one of the priority goals of the foreign policy of Barack Obama's Administration. At negotiations with William J. Burns and Richard Holbrooke the spot was on the Afghan problem, and the regional situation in Central Asia as well.
The day concluded with a reception in honor of the Kazakh Foreign Minister in the Congress with participation of outstanding American legislators, representatives of the Administration and public political figures of the USA, heads of diplomatic missions accredited in Washington.