Embassy News
U.S Delegation Holds Press Conference in Astana
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| From left to right: Rep. G.K. Butterfield, Rep. Hilda Solis, Sen. Ben Cardin, Rep. Alcee Hastings, Ambassador John Ordway. |
On July 1, 2008, a visiting U.S. delegation from the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe (U.S. Helsinki Commission) held a press conference in Astana at the Radisson hotel. The event was led by the Chairman and Co-Chairman of the Commission, Congressman Alcee L. Hastings and Senator Benjamin L. Cardin, as well as the U.S. Ambassador to Kazakhstan, John Ordway. Also in attendance were other U.S. Helsinki Commissioners from the U.S. Congress, including: Representatives Robert B. Aderholt, Madeleine Bordallo, G.K. Butterfield, Mike McIntyre, Gwen Moore, Loretta Sanchez, Hilda Solis, Zach Wamp, and Diane Watson.
At the press conference, the U.S. delegation discussed the relationship between the United States and Kazakhstan, as well as Kazakhstan’s upcoming chairmanship of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) in 2010.
The Congressional delegation was in Astana from June 28 – July 2 to attend the 17th Annual Session of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly. While in Astana, the delegation also met with Kazakhstani officials, including President Nursultan Nazarbayev and Prime Minister Karim Masimov. They also spoke with representatives from civil society groups. The visit was the largest U.S. Congressional delegation to travel to the Republic of Kazakhstan.