Kazakhstan strongly determined to give fresh impetus to OSCE activity - Ambassador of Kyrgyzstan to Uzbekistan A. Madmarov

How do you estimate the first steps of Kazakhstan as OSCE acting chair?

First of all, it should be noted that election of Kazakhstan as OSCE chairman is a recognition of the country's success in social-political development by the world community as well as its contribution to security promotion in the world and the region, which become nuclear-free due to Kazakhstan's activities.

I am glad to know that since the first days of its chairmanship the Kazakhstan's side has demonstrated a firm ambition to give a new impetus to the activity of the Organization. It can be proved by the proposal of President Nursultan Nazarbayev to hold the OSCE Summit in 2010 supported by the organization's key member states. The efforts of Kazakhstan as the chair country in activation of settlement of protracted conflicts as well as its intention to draw attention to the achievement of balance of the three baskets should be noted as well.

What does Kyrgyzstan expect from the chairmanship of its friendly neighbor in OSCE?

As we believe, the Organization needs better understanding of the real situation in Central Asian region. Undoubtedly, the chairmanship of Kazakhstan will let the Organization study the situation in this region. We also think that adoption of declarative measures is no enough for solution of problems existing in Central Asia. In this regard we think it is expedient to activate the cooperation of the OSCE with other countries of the region in economic and environmental dimension of the Organization's activity.

I would like to draw your attention to one of the most dangerous environmental problems of our region as the problem of uranium tailing ponds. In case of transfer of hazardous materials to trans-boundary rivers can cause an ecological disaster contaminating the territories of Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.

One of the principal lines of Kazakhstan's activity as OSCE Chair is the settlement of Afghan problem. Kyrgyzstan also has the so called 'Bishkek Initiative' connected with the resolution of this problem.

Kyrgyzstan, which supports the policy of good-neighborly relations, friendship and cooperation with other countries, taking into account the situation in Afghanistan, thinks it is necessary to search for new forms and approaches to the solution of the Afghan problem. Herein, the solution to the problem must have a complex and system approach covering political, economic and humanitarian aspects. Taking into account day-to-day realities it is suggested updating the long-term program on economic recovery and growth of Afghanistan so its neighbor countries could take part in its implementation. We think that military action alone is insufficient for settlement of the situation in Afghanistan.

In this regard President of Kyrgyzstan Kurmanbek Bakiyev initiated a complex of measures and proposals aimed at resolving the Afghan problem which was named 'Bishkek Initiative'.

According to the initiative, it is supposed to turn Kyrgyzstan into a platform for standing international conference on the issues of security and stability in Central Asia. The given initiative also supposes creation of the international analytical center for the analysis of the situation in the region as well as development of corresponding recommendations.

The proposals of Kyrgyzstan were announced last year at the conferences and forums devoted to Afghanistan in Moscow, the Hague, Islamabad, Tashkent, Trieste and London, at the sessions of the CSTO in Moscow, SCO Summit in Yekaterinburg this year. The results of those meetings confirm that the initiative of the Kyrgyz President received expected support.

The initiative was presented to the UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon, his Deputy Linn Pasco and his Special Representative in Afghanistan Kai Eide. They supported the initiative of Kyrgyzstan.

What do you think about the intention to hold the OSCE Summit this year in Astana?

As was mentioned above, the idea to hold the OSCE Summit in 2010 reflects the intention of Kazakhstan to bring together the positions of the member states on topical issues of development of the Organization. Taking into account the fact that the OSCE members have not gathered for ten years, the necessity and expediency of this initiative is obvious. In this context Kyrgyzstan supports the idea of holding the OSCE Summit in 2010 to discuss and solve the global issues of the international security.

Thank you for the interview!