Comments on: Think About the OSCE http://registan.net/index.php/2007/12/09/think-about-the-osce/ All Central Asia, All The Time Fri, 25 May 2012 20:24:26 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: ak http://registan.net/index.php/2007/12/09/think-about-the-osce/comment-page-1/#comment-376016 ak Mon, 10 Dec 2007 22:59:50 +0000 http://www.registan.net/index.php/2007/12/09/think-about-the-osce/#comment-376016 naive indeed. With this mindet, osce chairmanship is a joke, rewarding countries with poor records with chairmanhip. naive indeed. With this mindet, osce chairmanship is a joke, rewarding countries with poor records with chairmanhip.

]]> By: Jamie Maddox http://registan.net/index.php/2007/12/09/think-about-the-osce/comment-page-1/#comment-376015 Jamie Maddox Mon, 10 Dec 2007 19:01:23 +0000 http://www.registan.net/index.php/2007/12/09/think-about-the-osce/#comment-376015 Let's talk about Nazarbaev's motivations behind assuming the chairmanship. Every action he's taken, especially in the last year, only furthers to consolidate his own power. I hardly think that this development will lead him to 'come to his senses.' Chairing the OSCE is more about Kazakhstan's reputation in Central Asia (and beyond) than any moves to become more democratic. What will stop Kazakhstan from taking the opportunity to side with Russia and pressure the OSCE to address the 'security and stability' issue at the expense of democracy and human rights in the future? The OSCE's precarious position means that this is no time for a country with very questionable practices to take the lead. Let’s talk about Nazarbaev’s motivations behind assuming the chairmanship. Every action he’s taken, especially in the last year, only furthers to consolidate his own power. I hardly think that this development will lead him to ‘come to his senses.’ Chairing the OSCE is more about Kazakhstan’s reputation in Central Asia (and beyond) than any moves to become more democratic. What will stop Kazakhstan from taking the opportunity to side with Russia and pressure the OSCE to address the ‘security and stability’ issue at the expense of democracy and human rights in the future? The OSCE’s precarious position means that this is no time for a country with very questionable practices to take the lead.

]]> By: Dolkun http://registan.net/index.php/2007/12/09/think-about-the-osce/comment-page-1/#comment-376013 Dolkun Mon, 10 Dec 2007 10:13:36 +0000 http://www.registan.net/index.php/2007/12/09/think-about-the-osce/#comment-376013 Joshua, to rephrase what you just said, by conceding the chair, the OSCE will pressure Kazakhstan. This may not be naive, but it is original Joshua, to rephrase what you just said, by conceding the chair, the OSCE will pressure Kazakhstan. This may not be naive, but it is original

]]> By: Joshua Foust http://registan.net/index.php/2007/12/09/think-about-the-osce/comment-page-1/#comment-376012 Joshua Foust Mon, 10 Dec 2007 02:54:25 +0000 http://www.registan.net/index.php/2007/12/09/think-about-the-osce/#comment-376012 Steve, I disagree. The OSCE has cachet only so far as its member states can throw it... which means it operates at their pleasure. I think the calculation was made that by conceding to Kazakhstan the chairmanship in 2010 (to the best of my knowledge, neither Georgia nor Ukraine were requesting a term as chairman), they might be able to pressure the country into actually enacting the reforms it eternally promises. It may be a totally naïve idea, but it isn't without totally without merit. Steve, I disagree. The OSCE has cachet only so far as its member states can throw it… which means it operates at their pleasure. I think the calculation was made that by conceding to Kazakhstan the chairmanship in 2010 (to the best of my knowledge, neither Georgia nor Ukraine were requesting a term as chairman), they might be able to pressure the country into actually enacting the reforms it eternally promises. It may be a totally naïve idea, but it isn’t without totally without merit.

]]> By: Steve LeVine http://registan.net/index.php/2007/12/09/think-about-the-osce/comment-page-1/#comment-376010 Steve LeVine Sun, 09 Dec 2007 17:11:34 +0000 http://www.registan.net/index.php/2007/12/09/think-about-the-osce/#comment-376010 Josh, I don't understand your equivocation. How can someone lead Eurasia's key election watchdog when it itself has never held a fair election? The line is simple: run a fair election, then you can be chair; otherwise you've got zero moral authority with others. Bonnie Boyd's position is similarly problematic -- this isn't about being pristine (who is?). We are talking about an organization one of whose very reasons for existence is to help ensure electoral fairness; Kazakhstan's ascendance to the chair makes a mockery of that. Best Steve Steve LeVine, author The Oil and the Glory http://www.oilandglory.com Josh, I don’t understand your equivocation. How can someone lead Eurasia’s key election watchdog when it itself has never held a fair election? The line is simple: run a fair election, then you can be chair; otherwise you’ve got zero moral authority with others. Bonnie Boyd’s position is similarly problematic — this isn’t about being pristine (who is?). We are talking about an organization one of whose very reasons for existence is to help ensure electoral fairness; Kazakhstan’s ascendance to the chair makes a mockery of that. Best Steve

Steve LeVine, author
The Oil and the Glory
http://www.oilandglory.com

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