OSCE Offers Encouragement To Kazakhstan, Despite Sluggish Reforms
The OSCE's Goran Lennmarker
June 30, 2008
The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe is considered to be Europe's leading human rights body, which is why some are concerned that Kazakhstan is scheduled to take over the rotating chairmanship of the organization in 2010.
The country has been struggling with democratic reforms it promised to implement as part of its chairmanship agreement.
The annual meeting of the OSCE's Parliamentary Assembly is being held this week in the Kazakh capital, Astana. Kazakhstan's commitment to the promised reforms is one of the topics being discussed, and so far words of encouragement are the order of the day.
Parliamentary Assembly President Goran Lennmarker said the OSCE is "confident that Kazakhstan will continue to work towards" meeting its commitments "in good faith and in a transparent and inclusive manner."
OSCE Secretary-General Marc Perrin de Brichambaut also said he feels confident that Astana will fulfull its commitments.
Read full coverage of the OSCE meeting in Astana
here.