DUSHANBE, May 19, 2010, Asia-Plus  -- The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe will assist with settlement of inter-country problems in Central Asia.

The OSCE Chairperson-in-Office also Kazakhstan’s Secretary of State and Minister of Foreign Affairs Kanat Saudabayev remarked this in Dushanbe today after a meeting with President Emomali Rahmon.

According to him, they discussed regional problems existing in Central Asia and Afghanistan.  “President Rahmon seconded an initiative to hold the OSCE summit on issues related to stabilization of the situation in Afghanistan in 2010,” the OSCE CiO said.

Mr. Saudabayev stressed that OSCE would be actively engaged in issues of intensifying fight against terrorism and extremism emanating from Afghanistan.

He added that they had also discussed issues related to the Aral Sea problems.  “A donor conference on rehabilitation of the Aral Sea will be held in Kazakhstan this year,” Saudabayev said. 

The OSCE Chairperson-in-Office (CiO) provides the political leadership of the OSCE and oversees the Organization''s activities in conflict prevention, crisis management and post-conflict rehabilitation.  The CiO is also responsible for the external representation of the OSCE and for OSCE appointments.  Kazakhstan holds the OSCE Chairmanship in 2010 and Kazakhstan''s Secretary of State and Minister of Foreign Affairs Kanat Saudabayev is the current Chairperson-in-Office.