Spain intends to use its OSCE chairmanship to settle South Caucasus conflicts

Spain intends to use its forthcoming OSCE chairmanship starting from January 1, 2007, to settle the "frozen" conflicts in East Europe and South Caucasus.

"Spain is offering itself in the role of mediator for bringing the parties closer, even where we have their clearly differing positions," Bernardino Leon, state secretary (deputy minister) for foreign affairs, has stated.

The RIA "Novosti" reports that the state secretary has marked that in the cases of Russia and Georgia, Azerbaijan and Armenia, Moldova and Transdniestria we have the conflicts, which "are not even correct to be treated as frozen," since "they come up with a bang."

"Spain will take its OSCE chair post with optimism. We hope that our country will strengthen its presence in the regions where it has been absent earlier... in the Balkans, Caucasus and Middle Asia," the Spanish politician has stated.

Among other problems that Spain is going to deal with as the OSCE chair, he has stressed "fighting international terrorism and religious intolerance."

The initiative of Alliance of Civilizations - the Christian and Islamic ones - was suggested several years ago by Spanish Premier Jose Louis Rodriguez Sapatero and supported by Turkey. The Alliance assumes development of all-sided cooperation between the countries representing both civilizations. "Our Mediterranean partners are expecting Spain to contribute a lot into fighting Islamo-phobia," the state secretary has declared.