OREANDA-NEWS. October 16, 2009. Consultations on OSCE-related issues took place in Astana on October 15 between Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation Alexander Grushko and Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan Konstantin Zhigalov.

Matters relating to preparations for the next session of the OSCE Ministerial Council (Athens, December 1-2) were thoroughly examined.

In a frank and constructive vein, the sides discussed questions associated with the preparation and holding of Kazakhstan’s chairmanship of the OSCE in 2010.

Topical problems of the current financing of the OSCE and its executive structures were also touched on.