Establishment of closer interaction between OSCE and Council of Europe meets interests of international community - Saudabayev

"Basing on the principles of observation of human rights, democracy and supremacy of law, the OSCE and the Council of Europe develop cooperation in such priority directions as fight with terrorism and human trafficking, promotion of principles of tolerance, non-discrimination and respect to ethnical minorities", Saudabayev noted. In this context, it is important to enhance joint work of both organizations in order to avoid "unnecessary duplication" for ensuring efficient activity of the whole international community, he added.

In his speech K. Saudabayev stressed interest of the Kazakh side as the OSCE presiding country in further development of the Corfu process, the dialogue on urgent aspects of European security. As the OSCE Chairman-in-Office stated, promotion of the Corfu process could play an important role in formation of the agenda of the OSCE top-level Summit in 2010.

The meeting was also attended by Secretary General of the OSCE Marc Perrin de Brichambaut, Chairman of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Switzerland Micheline Calmy-Rey and Secretary General of the Council of Europe Thorbjorn Jagland. The parties focused on the priorities of joint activity in 2010, the issues of the organizations' interaction within their work in Eastern and South-Eastern Europe and the Caucasus.

It should be noted that the spheres of the OSCE-Council of Europe cooperation include also observation of election process, legislative reforms, local self-administration, observance of human rights and global democratic standards.