OSCE Chairperson discusses Astana Summit aftermath

    OSCE Chairperson-in-Office and Lithuanian Foreign Minister Audronius Ažubalis emphasised preserving momentum from December’s Astana Summit and sustaining Kazakhstani reforms, according to a February 28 OSCE statement.
    Ažubalis called for those priorities after meeting with Kazakhstani President Nursultan Nazarbayev. Kazakhstan's 2010 OSCE Chairmanship raised awareness of the OSCE’s Eurasian dimension, he said. The Lithuanian Chairmanship will stay focused on Eurasian security in 2011, he promised.
    Ažubalis praised Kazakhstan’s efforts to end the Kyrgyz crisis last year and urged Kazakhstan to continue implementing democratic reforms.
    Ažubalis was scheduled to meet with Senate Chairman Kassym-Zhomart Tokayev and Parliament Chairman Ural Mukhamedzhanov before spending March 1 in Almaty with NGO and political party representatives, according to Central Asia Online.