Presidency of Kazakhstan in OSCE to change western stereotypes concerning former USSR states

Almaty. April 28. Kazakhstan Today - The OSCE representative considers that the presidency of Kazakhstan in the organization will change stereotypes, which exist in the west concerning the former USSR sttaes and will advance the OSCE on the post-Soviet territory. Director of the Office of the OSCE Secretary General, Paul Fritch, stated during the session 'Presidency of Kazakhstan in OSCE: Importance, Expectations and Opportunities' at the IX Eurasian Media Forum (EAMF), the agency reports.

"Will the presidency of Kazakhstan in OSCE help to overcome certain stereotypes, which exist in the west concerning the former USSR states? The answer to the question is yes. Kazakhstan can help," P. Fritch said.

He said, "The presidency of Kazakhstan can be useful in the work on struggle against stereotypes." "William Courtney, ex-ambassador of the USA to Kazakhstan, said that the Central Asian states should consider OSCE as their allied organization. It is their organization. We spoke about autonomy of the OSCE institutes and the large OSCE member countries and how much such institutes threaten their national security. Why does the OSCE structure have an independent structure? Because 56 member countries have decided that such autonomy is necessary," P. Fritch said.