Deputy Chairman of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly, Special Representative for the Sustainable Development Goals, Senator Askar Shakirov took part in the regional seminar "The Role of Neutral States in Strengthening Security, Stability and Dialogue in Central Asia" held in Ashgabat under the auspices of the OSCE PA, El.kz reports with reference to the press service of the Senate of the Parliament of the Republic of Kazakhstan.
OSCE parliamentarians discussed the prospects for cooperation between Central Asian countries and the OSCE, the place of neutral space in a polarized context, as well as the role of the states of the region in overcoming the crisis of multilateralism within the OSCE.
Speaking at the seminar, Askar Shakirov noted the importance of joint work in strengthening the role of the OSCE as a unique multilateral platform for building peace and preventing conflicts.
In this context, the importance of implementing the OSCE Astana Declaration, which launched the formation of a single indivisible Euro-Atlantic and Eurasian security community, was emphasized.
"We should all preserve and promote the spirit of Astana and the spirit of Helsinki. Only such a unifying approach will allow us to preserve the Organization and unleash its potential as an effective multilateral platform for decision-making on fundamental issues of security and cooperation," the senator said.
It was noted that in the context of geopolitical turbulence and instability of the world economy, the countries of the region came to understand that the future of Central Asia lies in close cooperation and dialogue. This is largely facilitated by the holding of consultative meetings of the heads of state of the region. A high level of cooperation in the region is also maintained through the Parliaments.
Representatives of the participating countries noted the importance of the OSCE's role as a multilateral platform for countering challenges to security and stability, promoting regional cooperation and sustainable development in Central Asia.