New OSCE Chairman Makes New Year's Statement

Miguel Angel Moratinos (file photo) (OSCE) January 3, 2007 (RFE/RL) -- Spain's foreign minister says he will focus on boosting democratic values during his year as chairman in office of Europe's largest security and rights body, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE).

Miguel Angel Moratinos made the announcement in a New Year letter addressed to the 56 OSCE member states.


Spain took over the body's one-year rotating chairmanship from Belgium on January 1.

Kazakhstan And The OSCE

Kazakhstan And The OSCE



READY TO LEAD THE OSCE? Kazakhstan has been lobbying to be granted the rotating chair of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) in 2009. In March, current OSCE head Karel De Gucht visited the country and said Kazakhstan is better prepared to head the OSCE than any other Central Asian country. But concerns about the state of democracy, the media, and ethnic relations make Kazakhstan's bid extremely controversial....(more)


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