OSCE chairman urges to scrutinize Russia`s security initiative

WASHINGTON, February 4 (Itar-Tass) - Russia's initiative to sign a new
treaty on European security has all grounds for being seriously studied by
member-states of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe,
said the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, Kazakh Foreign Minister Kanat
Saudabayev.
"Taking into account the fact that over the past several years Europe'
s security architecture changed, Russia's proposal has all grounds for
being scrutinized and studied by the OSCE member-states," he told the
Atlantic Council on Wednesday. "The principle of this organization
presupposes the right of countries to demonstrate their view and put
forward their proposals."
In an interview with Itar-Tass Saudabayev said with the support of
other countries Kazakhstan "in fact, began to coordinate the agenda of the
OSCE summit" that the authorities of the Central Asian republic propose to
hold in Astana in 2010.
"As the support for this idea is reflected in the documents adopted at
the OSCE Ministerial Council in Athens, today we began practical
coordination of the summit's agenda," he said. "The position of the United
States as well as of other 55 member-states of the organization is
positive."
However, US Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia
Robert Blake said official Washington has not finalized its position so
far. The talks with Kazakh partners on the opportunities for holding the
summit are underway, as such a summit has not been organized for over ten
years and its agenda should be thoroughly prepared.

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