The OSCE, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, which unites 57 participating States from North America, Europe and Asia, is the world's largest regional organization dealing with security issues. It works in the name of stability, peace and democracy in the interests of more than one billion people, carrying out political dialogue on issues of common values and practical activities aimed at making our world a better place.
The OSCE serves as a forum for political dialogue on a wide range of security issues and a platform for joint activities to improve the lives of people and their communities. The Organization uses a comprehensive approach to security, which covers the military-political, economic-environmental and human dimensions. Through this approach and its inclusive membership, the OSCE contributes to overcoming differences and building trust between States through cooperation in conflict prevention, crisis management and post-conflict reconstruction.
With the help of its institutes, expert units and the OSCE field Operations network
deals with issues affecting our common security, including arms control, terrorism, good governance, energy security, human trafficking, democratization, freedom of the media and national minorities.
Kazakhstan became a member of the CSCE (Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe) on January 30, 1992. This automatically meant the recognition of Kazakhstan by all 48 members of this international organization.
During 1992, Kazakhstan signed all the fundamental documents of the CSCE, primarily the Helsinki Final Act of 1975 and the Charter of Paris for a New Europe, and thereby assumed all the obligations of a member of the organization.
In 1994, at the Budapest Summit, the CSCE was renamed the OSCE (Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe). From the first days of its participation in this organization, Kazakhstan began to actively advocate for strengthening security in the CSCE/OSCE area.
Kazakhstan has participated in all CSCE/OSCE summits: in Budapest (1994), in Lisbon (1996), in Istanbul (1999). The Budapest Summit was of great importance for the security of the Republic of Kazakhstan, at which, as a state that voluntarily renounced nuclear weapons, security guarantees were given by the CSCE/OSCE nuclear powers.
Evidence of the strengthening of Kazakhstan's authority in the OSCE was the fact that the first meeting of the Lisbon Summit was chaired by the First President of Kazakhstan, Nursultan Nazarbayev.
In 1999, the OSCE Center was officially opened in Almaty. This was evidence that Central Asia remained a priority area of the OSCE. In accordance with the agreements reached, the OSCE Center in Kazakhstan received a mandate in the following areas: promoting compliance with the principles and obligations of the organization, facilitating Kazakhstan's participation within the OSCE in ensuring all dimensions of security; encouraging contacts with OSCE institutions and its members, as well as with international organizations and institutions; establishing and maintaining contacts with local authorities, educational, scientific and non-governmental organizations; assisting OSCE regional activities.