Victor Osipov: Astana Summit produced a minimalist result

“The Summit in Astana has produced a minimalist result. Regretfully, it was not possible to adopt the documents that were initially planned to be signed at this forum. The Summit can be considered symptomatic of what is going on within OSCE”, stated Moldovan Deputy Prime Minister for Reintegration Victor Osipov, at a news conference on Monday held to provide comments on the results of his visit to Astana, Info-Prim Neo reports. The Summit was supposed to produce three final documents, but its participants managed to agree only on a Commemorative Declaration marking the 35th anniversary of the Helsinki Final Act and the 20th anniversary of the Charter of Paris. The participating countries failed to reach consensus on the Political Declaration and the Action Plan. “This was exactly the document with which the main expectations were associated. It was supposed to lay out the main directions of the OSCE's work and a number of concrete activities in such areas as conflict settlement, human rights protection, arms control and others”, said Victor Osipov. The Summit reaffirmed the need to step up efforts in the resolution of the so-called frozen conflicts according to the principles of international law and to prevent the escalation or the appearance of new conflicts. Osipov said that the refusal of acting President Mihai Ghimpu to take part in the Summit cost him an opportunity to meet with the EU President. “A head of state has a higher status, which enables him or her to discuss with other heads of state. During the negotiations there was an opportunity to meet with the EU President, but which was lost because of the status difference, considering that the Moldovan president was not present”, said Victor Osipov. The OSCE Summit was held in the Kazakh capital, Astana during December 1-2, bringing together top officials from 56 member states. In 2011 the rotating OSCE chair will be assumed by Lithuania, followed by Ireland in 2012 and Ukraine in 2013.