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Kazakhstan Poised to Step into the OSCE's Chairmanship

By Vladimir Socor

Kazakhstan is actively preparing to take over the OSCE's chairmanship next year. The challenges are daunting to any chairing country and the organization as such. According to multiple, though unofficial reports from the organization's Vienna headquarters, Kazakhstan has asked Finland to host an OSCE summit in 2010 in Helsinki, focusing on Russian President Dmitry Medvedev's initiative to create a "new European security architecture." The proposed event will be the OSCE's first summit at the level of heads of state since Istanbul in 1999. READ MORE

On The Eve Of OSCE Chairmanship, Lithuania And Kazakhstan Strengthen Cooperation

During his official visit in Astana (Kazakhstan) on 8 June, Lithuania‘s Minister of Foreign Affairs Vygaudas Ušackas met with Kazakhstan‘s Foreign Minister Marat Tazhin. READ MORE

St. Petersburg Forum: in search of anti-crisis solutions

By Samir Shakhbaz

Interview one of the participants of the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum - Kairat Kelimbetov, the head of Kazakhstan’s National Welfare Fund (Samruk-Kazyna) READ MORE

Kazakhstan’s Strategic Significance

The decision by the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) to award Kazakhstan the chairmanship of the organization for 2010 underscores a growing recognition of the country’s regional and continental importance. Kazakhstan is a strategic linchpin in the vast Central Asian-Caspian Basin zone, a region rich in energy resources and a potential gateway for commerce and communications between Europe and Asia. READ MORE

Diplomats Of Lithuania And Kazakhstan Are Getting Ready To Chair The OSCE

On 1 June in Vienna, Lithuanian and Kazakh diplomats started a two-week long training, thus preparing to chair the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE).

The training is organised by the Centre for OSCE Research, which is part of the Institute for Peace Research and Security Policy at the University of Hamburg. READ MORE

Transit – Klondike of Kazakhstan

By Ilya Blogger

The expertise of potential incomes from transit traffic through the territory of Kazakhstan comprises about 2 billion USD. However, yet this lot is more like a ripe apple beyond the reach of native specialists in transport and logistics. A part of them think, that the fruit has already been gathered by China. READ MORE

Kazakhstan: Evaluating Astana’s Democratization Intentions

By Joshua Kucera

When Kazakhstan was named 2010 chair of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, Astana pledged to undertake wide-ranging political reforms. But now, just over six months before Kazakhstan takes over the OSCE’s helm, US lawmakers and diplomats are voicing concern that Astana is not serious about fulfilling its commitments. READ MORE

Kazakhstan to control Caspian crude supplies

Kazakhstan plans to control the supplies of its crude through the Caspian Sea. Currently, the government is involved in difficult negotiations with its partners for a 51 percent control stake in the Kazakhstan Caspian Transportation System (KCTS,) the Kazakh Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Sauat Mynbayev told New Europe. “By all means, 51 percent; we will not join that project, formally or informally, for anything lower that 51 percent,” he said. READ MORE

Uzbekistan And Kazakhstan Preparing To Block Energy Projects, Kyrgyz Press Warns

Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan are preparing to jointly block Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan’s proposed hydroelectric projects, according to media outlets in Kyrgyzstan. READ MORE

Kazakhstan's Transport Policy Faces Political Dilemma

By Farkhad Sharip

On October 16, 2007, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan and Iran signed an agreement to lay 700 kilometers of railroad track from Uzen in Western Kazakhstan to Gorgan in Iran transiting Turkmenistan. However, his railroad might be delayed for more than eighteen months for financial reasons. READ MORE