Belgian Foreign Minister Karel De Gucht, the chairman of the OSCE (file photo) (epa)
March 27, 2006 – The chairman of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) today told Kazakhstan that it has a better chance of leading the organization in 2009 than any other Central Asian state.
However, Belgian Foreign Minister Karel De Gucht told Kazakhstan's President Nursultan Nazarbaev that, for that to happen, key political reforms must be undertaken. De Gucht said he put "a lot of emphasis" on the need for far-reaching reforms during his talks with Nazarbaev.
De Gucht is due to travel to the country's economic capital, Almaty, later on March 27 for talks with opposition representatives.
(AFP)
RFE/RL Central Asia Report
RFE/RL Central Asia Report
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