ASTANA. August 11. KAZINFORM One of the main achievements of Kazakhstan during the years of independence is becoming the first country in the CIS, Asia, Muslim and Turkic-speaking world to be elected as chairman in the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe. The OSCE Council of Foreign Ministers approved the initiative of Kazakhstan on holding of the Summit of the Organization in Astana on December 1-2.

OSCE Chairman-in-Office, Kazakh Secretary of State - Foreign Minister Kanat Saudabayev told a Kazinform correspondent how the Kazakhstan's foreign policy was appraised by the world community and the importance of holding the Summit in Kazakhstan.

Mr. Saudabayev, what is the significance of the decision on holding the OSCE Summit in our country?

The historical importance of this decision was clearly defined by President Nursultan Nazarbayev who said: "This historical decision represents fair evaluation of the achievements of independent Kazakhstan. Today Kazakhstan is an active participant of the process of global security provision, a source of peace, accord and stability. Known for their justice the Kazakh people are the first among Asian countries and post-soviet space to host the Summit of such highly respected organization. Kazakhstan has never sought such recognition before."

Kazakhstanis can be proud of this unprecedented international success of their country, achieved under the leadership of its First President - Leader of the Nation Nursultan Nazarbayev.

Foreign experts say that political leaders and diplomats of Kazakhstan competently respond to foreign criticisms and strive to conquer new frontiers in foreign policy. What do you think about it?

It is true. Besides, the world experts say that our OSCE presidency gave a new impetus to democratic renovation of Kazakhstan and the whole region and strengthened the European dimension of our state.

Today we can state that the coming Summit will be an apogee of successful internal and foreign policy of the Head of our State during the years of independence.

When were the previous summits held? Which of them was the most important in your opinion?

The world community has recently marked the 35^th anniversary of the Helsinki Final Act. In this regard, being the Chairman-in-Office of the Organization I made a statement stressing that this historic document had not lost its significance in past decades. Innovatory and comprehensive conception adopted in Helsinki by the heads of 35 states still remains an important factor of security and cooperation within the framework of the OSCE responsibility. The basis of this policy was laid at the Helsinki Summit in 1975.

The following summits were held in Paris in 1990, Helsinki in 1992, Budapest in 1994, Lisbon in 1996 and Istanbul in 1999.

Each of these summits played an important role. The Budapest Summit was of special importance for us. At the Summit three nuclear powers - the USA, Russia and Great Britain - provided Kazakhstan, as the first country in the world voluntarily renounced the nuclear weapons, their security guarantees. Later France and China provided corresponding guarantees as well.         

The Summit where the Charter of Paris for a New Europe was adopted was of special importance as well.

The first session of the Luxembourg Summit is remembered for the chairmanship of our President N.Nazarbayev in it. Today the most important for us will be the coming OSCE Summit in Astana.

The work on preparation to the OSCE presidency has been held for years. What barriers have been overcome on the way to our chairmanship and why were we striving for this goal?

Why did we stand as a candidate for the chairmanship? Firstly, taking into account our national interests we intend to ensure reliable security and stability in Central Asia, including Afghanistan. This is the main factor of Kazakhstan development. We also want to strengthen the role of Kazakhstan as a bridge in the dialogue of civilizations between the West and the East. The next task is to boost the role and competitiveness of our state in the world arena.

Besides, by the time of our presidency a necessity of strengthening of the Organization itself arose. Being the OSCE presiding country Kazakhstan promotes the image and potential of the Organization for its reinforcement as an instrument of international security and cooperation.

Kazakhstan has been chairing the Organization for eight months. What does the experience of the past period show?

The Head of the State defined the chairmanship in the Organization as the strategic national project. We see that the OSCE presidency gave a powerful impetus to democratic development of our country and improvement of life quality of Kazakhstanis. Our presidency serves further strengthening of the unity and patriotism of Kazakhstan's people. It is obvious that realization of "Path to Europe" State Program worked out within the preparation to our chairmanship will be a new stage in development of independent Kazakhstan.

One of the basic principles of the presidency of Kazakhstan is equal fulfillment of the three baskets of the Organization. The first of the three baskets is military-political one. From the beginning we have made every effort to transfer from the concept of "security space" to "security community". Within the second basket we pay our special attention to search for adequate and timely responses to potential long-term economic and environmental challenges to the world, security and stability. And we eager for contributing in provision of basic rights and freedoms of people under the third humanitarian basket.

Today after seven months of our presidency in the Organization we are pleased to be appreciated by the Organization member states. The partners compliment our successful consolidation of efforts of international organizations in settling conflicts at the post-soviet space.

At the Akbulak meeting of the OSCE Foreign Ministers the Head of the State said: "I have no doubts that the OSCE needs a new strategy regarding Afghanistan". What is the point of this new strategy?

The main goal of the OSCE in Afghanistan is to help Afghan people to turn from armed confrontation to the path of creation. The events of the end of XX and beginning of XXI centuries prove that there is no military solution to the Afghan problem. In this regard it is important to prepare Afghan people to peaceful life. Starting from this year Kazakhstan will educate 200 Afghans annually in our vocational schools and higher educational institutions. USD 50 mln was allocated for this purpose. Big work on development of trade and economic cooperation with Afghanistan will be held as well as humanitarian aid will be rendered to the country. Finally, the situation in Afghanistan will be one of the main topics on the Astana Summit agenda.

How can you explain the fact that the OSCE Summit has not been held for years? What issues will be addressed at this forum?

The last OSCE Summit was held 11 years ago in Istanbul. However, attempts to organize it have been undertaken many times. But all they failed to find support of all participants of the Organization. One of the main reasons of it is absence of an agenda worthy of being discussed at the top-level. We conduct successive work on formation of the agenda of the Summit together with partners on the OSCE. I believe that the main issues can be advance of all commitments of the Organization, the future of the Euro-Atlantic and Eurasian security, including the Corfu Process and draft Treaty on European Security, struggle against new threats and challenges, situation in Afghanistan and Kyrgyzstan, issues of rights and freedoms of people and other universal values.

Kazakhstan has never hosted such large scale international forums before. What can you say about organizational aspects of preparation to the Summit?

The preparation to the Astana Summit and its successful hosting is the main task of our presidency in the OSCE as well as a nationwide priority.

We have no doubts that Kazakhstan will successfully perform this task.

Thank you for the interview.