Speaking note

Kazakhstan is a large and successful country in a region increasingly recognized for its strategic value.

In addition, it has shown since its independence to be a reliable and faithful partner in establishing cooperative security, the very concept of security that is the hallmark of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe.

Kazakhstan has been very successful in establishing stable and friendly relations with all its neighbors. In the eyes of everyone, therefore, it is forcing consideration as a producer of security. Its careful, moderate and constructive approach in the OSCE makes it one of its major players. The Panel of seven Eminent Persons set up by the Slovenian Chair in Office to reflect on the organization’s existing and future tasks comprises a personality from Kazakhstan, Mr. Koamish Sultanov, member of the Kazakh Senate. This is no coincidence.

Kazakhstan’s announcement that it is ready to assume the responsibilities of chairing the OSCE in 2009 is in line with ongoing developments. It is a great project, commensurate with Kazakhstan’s capabilities to play a greater role in the international community. That ambition, from any viewpoint, is to be welcomed. When the decision to entrust the leadership of the OSCE to Kazakhstan for one year would be taken, it would demonstrate that the OSCE genuinely belongs to all its participating States, that it is an inclusive organization owned by all of them, whether they are situated west of Vienna or east of Vienna and whether they host an OSCE Mission or get involved in the OSCE otherwise.

At the same time, to chair the OSCE is to take the responsibility to carry its agenda forward. This means the continued implementation of the OSCE’s “acquis” of commitments in the security, economic and human dimensions and the possible development of additional commitments. The task of any Chair in Office is to live up to this collective purpose. True, the Panel of Eminent Persons might develop new ideas about what the OSCE in the future could do. Chances are however that it will not question the commitments and the cooperative security model of the OSCE, which result from the work heretofore.

The contributions that Kazakhstan makes and can further make to the organization therefore remain multifold. Here is a set of issues where Kazakhstan has acquired internationally recognized experience and where it could help move the OSCE agenda forward, as a matter of fact, even before taking over the helm of the organization.

In the early ’90, Kazakhstan completed an exemplary program of nuclear disarmament, for which perhaps it has not been quoted often enough. On that basis, it can legitimately claim a role in pursuing further the agenda of non-proliferation within the OSCE. The present “Principles governing non-proliferation” were approved in Budapest in 1994. Today, the issue is how to help implement, within the OSCE area, the conventions, resolutions and decisions that have been developed since. The landmark UN-Security Council Resolution n° 1540 also has intervened in the meantime. In addition, new concerns have arisen, such as the one documented by the IAEA and related to the increased poorly controlled circulation of low-grade radioactive materials that can present the risk of a “dirty bomb”. This issue is not covered in any international legal instrument as of yet.

Another area where Kazakhstan can contribute authoritatively is in relation with the “Environment and Security Initiative” launched jointly by the UN-Environmental Program, the UN-Development Program and the OSCE. A major report on possible environmental risks to security is expected early 2006. Such risks are related to water or land pollution, to radiation from nuclear wastes dating from the Soviet period (f.i. at the Kazakh Semipalatinsk site used by the Soviet Union for nuclear explosion experimentation) and to erosion of over-exploited land. The initiative covers Central Asia but also other regions. It may become a landmark in generating cross-border and regional cooperation and coordination.

Kazakhstan could further take the lead in expanding OSCE activities in developing small business enterprises or training young entrepreneurs.

Also in the economic field, as a landlocked country, Kazakhstan has a clear stake in strengthening OSCE region-wide cooperation in the area of transportation and communication. The Russian Federation has suggested a focus on this topic and Belgium is giving it serious consideration for the economic agenda leading to the annual OSCE forum of 2006. In addition, an Energy Security Conference is on the OSCE’s drawing board : it generates considerable interest and Kazakhstan is well placed to contribute to its success and carry the subject through until concrete results are achieved.

Immigration trends and responses to immigration figure high on the agenda of the incumbent Slovenia Chair in Office. Most likely, participating States will want to build on the work achieved. Kazakhstan is both a transit country and a country of destination for immigration, like many western European states. There is no doubt that it can contribute hugely to a balanced and proportionate approach on the part of the OSCE participating States.

Finally, though this list is by no means meant to be exhaustive, Kazakhstan has organized a First Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions that took place in Astana on 23-24 September 2003. In spirit, substance and purpose, this important and successful initiative shows striking parallelism with the efforts deployed within the OSCE to promote tolerance among people of different origins, background and religions. The relevance of Kazakhstan’s exemplary policies for the whole of the OSCE is striking. The idea of a Second Congress in 2006 is in the air. At the same time, while the OSCE is preparing for a tolerance conference in Cordoba, Spain, coming June, it is already looking at an agenda for 2006. Maybe the Second Congress and a follow-up OSCE event could be combined. This seems worth exploring.

So these are a number of ideas that could be further pursued. Belgium is in the starting blocks for the Chairmanship 2006 of the OSCE. It is most fortunate to have as its host today a partner, a leading nation of Central Asia, whose plans and projects seem to echo so closely its own. Within the OSCE, it is obvious that a kind of bilateral cooperation could be pursued that would strengthen the organization’s agenda.

Today’s meeting could be the first step towards the adoption of common ideas, with added value all the way, at least till 2009.

Bertrand de Crombrugghe

Permanent Representative of Belgium to the OSCE