- OSCE conference to discuss way forward at 20th anniversary of landmark human rights agreement in Copenhagen

COPENHAGEN, 8 June 2010 - An international conference to take stock and discuss the way forward on the 20th anniversary of the adoption of the landmark Copenhagen Document will take place in the Danish capital on 10 and 11 June.

The 1990 Copenhagen Document was a milestone in ending the Cold War. It is one of the most far-reaching international human rights agreements ever adopted, setting new standards in areas such as democratic elections, minority rights protection and the rule of law.

Representatives of the OSCE’s 56 participating States, civil society groups and experts will attend the conference, organized by Kazakhstan’s OSCE chairmanship and the Danish Foreign Ministry.

In five working sessions - on elections and human rights, rule of law, national minorities, freedom of movement, and implementation - participants will take stock of compliance with the commitments made in Copenhagen, identify remaining challenges and look at measures that can be taken to close implementation gaps.

The conference will be opened by the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Denmark, Lene Espersen, and the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, Kazakhstan’s Secretary of State and Minister of Foreign Affairs Kanat Saudabayev.

The opening session, on 10 June from 9:30 to 10:00, and the closing session on 11 June at 15:30 will be open to media. Journalists are requested to bring a press ID for on-the-spot registration at the conference venue at Eigtveds Pakhus, Asiatisk Plads 2 G.

For more information, visit the conference website: http://www.osce.org/conferences/copenhagen_20.html

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- High-level OSCE conference in Astana on tolerance and non-discrimination to take place in the end of June

ASTANA, 8 June 2010 - Senior government officials, politicians and public figures from the 56 OSCE participating States will meet in Kazakhstan’s capital Astana on 29 and 30 June to discuss tolerance and non-discrimination in the OSCE region. The deadline for media accreditation is 15 June 2010.

The aim of the conference is to advance implementation of the OSCE commitments and values related to promoting tolerance, non-discrimination and inter-cultural dialogue which are a key priority of Kazakhstan’s OSCE Chairmanship in 2010.

The focus of the conference will be on ways to combat intolerance and discrimination on religious and ethnic grounds. Participants will discuss the role of legislation, law enforcement, education systems and the media in addressing public manifestations of intolerance and promoting understanding through open dialogue.

Experts on tolerance and non-discrimination from the OSCE participating States will share their experiences in setting up mechanisms for inter-ethnic and inter-religious dialogue. The Special Representatives of the Chairperson-in-Office on tolerance and non-discrimination will be actively involved in the work of the conference.

Non-governmental organizations will participate in a preparatory meeting in Astana on 28 June, as well as in the conference itself.

The official opening will take place on 29 June at 10:00 at the Palace of Peace and Reconciliation (the Pyramid) with a keynote speech by the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, State Secretary - Foreign Minister of Kazakhstan Kanat Saudabayev. After the opening session, an award ceremony for the winners of the OSCE Photo Contest on tolerance and non-discrimination will be held. Photos by the contest finalists will be featured in an exhibition in the Pyramid during the conference.

The opening and closing sessions, a final press conference on 30 June and the OSCE photo contest award ceremony will be open to media. Information about other media opportunities will be provided at the venue.

Journalists interested in covering the conference are requested to complete the media accreditation form available on the website of the Kazakhstan’s MFA. Accreditation forms must be submitted by 15 June 2010 to Kazakhstan’s Foreign Ministry.

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- OSCE Chairmanship calls for intensification of Incident Prevention and Response Mechanism in the South Caucasus region

GENEVA, 8 June 2010 - The Kazakh OSCE Chairmanship called on participants in today’s eleventh round of Geneva Discussions to resume meetings of the second Incident Prevention and Response Mechanism (IPRM) to address problems affecting daily the local communities.

"The IPRM has been designed to bring concrete solutions to concrete problems. Regular meetings are indispensable as incidents need to be fully investigated and appropriate responses agreed upon," Ambassador Bolat Nurgaliyev, the Special Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, said.

"A flexible approach is a pre-condition to engage in discussions to meet the expectations of ordinary people and I call on all participants in the Geneva Discussions to show willingness to build confidence in tackling practical measures. People are suffering; how long will they have to wait to get back to normal life?," Nurgaliyev asked.

Nurgaliyev and the other two Co-Chairs - Ambassador Antti Turunen of the UN and Ambassador Pierre Morel of the EU - reviewed with the participants the security situation on the ground, including the problem of missing persons and detainees. They called for regular joint visits to the sites of incidents and emphasized the need to make full use of the hotline, opened in February 2009, especially during times of tension.

Participants worked in two groups to address security and stability in the region, as well as humanitarian matters.

Nurgaliyev facilitated consultations on the humanitarian package, notably in the field of gas and water, proposed by the OSCE. Participants remained committed to improving the daily lives of communities. The modalities of the proposed package will require further elaboration among the relevant stakeholders.

It was agreed that the next meeting would be held in Geneva on 27 July, preceded by a pre-round trip of the Co-Chairs to the region.

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