Belgium To Focus On Caucasus During OSCE Presidency

Belgium next week takes over from Slovenia as president of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe.

In a statement today, the Belgian Foreign Ministry said it wants to make progress toward resolving conflicts between Azerbaijan and Armenia over the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region, Moldova's separatist region of Transdniestr, and Georgia's breakaway Abkhazia and South Ossetia regions.

Belgium also plans to focus its presidency on respect of the rule of law and combating international crime, as well as OSCE internal reforms.

Belgian Foreign Minister Karel De Gucht, who will be the body's head, is to officially unveil his plans for Belgium's presidency on 11 January in Brussels.

(AFP)