OSCE adopts Astana declaration.

ASTANA, December 3 (Itar-Tass) -- Fifty-six member-countries of the
Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) adopted a
declaration at a two-day summit in the Kazakh capital of Astana on
Thursday that calls to settle existing conflicts peacefully and prevent
new ones.
The Astana Commemorative Declaration: Towards a Security Community was
expected to be announced at noon, but was delayed till midnight.
The summit called to settle conflicts on the OSCE space peacefully in
compliance with the UN Charter and the Helsinki Final Act.
Kazakhstan's President Nursultan Nazarbayev welcomed the work of
summit saying the adoption of the Astana Declaration reconfirmed OSCE
comprehensive approach to security based on trust and transparency.
"We have reconfirmed our support to the comprehensive approach to
security based on trust and transparency in the politico-military field,
on rational economic and environmental policy and on the full-fledged
observation of human rights, basic freedoms and the rule of law," he said.
"We intend to raise the level and quality of security and understanding
between our states and peoples."
However "we realize that the way to a true Euro-Atlantic and Eurasian
community with united and indivisible security will be long and thorny,"
he said, adding that by implementing Astana commitments participating
States would prove the vitality of the Organization.
In the Declaration the summit reaffirmed commitment to OSCE principles.
"While we have made much progress, we also acknowledge that more must
be done to ensure full respect for, and implementation of, these core
principles and commitments that we have undertaken in the
politico-military dimension, the economic and environmental dimension, and
the human dimension, notably in the areas of human rights and fundamental
freedoms," the declaration said.
"The security of each participating State is inseparably linked to
that of all others. Each participating State has an equal right to
security. We reaffirm the inherent right of each and every participating
State to be free or choose or change its security arrangements, including
treaties of alliance, as they evolve. Each State also has the right to
neutrality. Each participating State will respect the rights of all others
in these regards. They will not strengthen their security at the expense
of the security of other States."
"Increased efforts should be made to resolve existing conflicts in the
OSCE area in a peaceful and negotiated manner, within agreed formats,
fully respecting the norms and principles of international law enshrined
in the United Nations Charter, as well as the Helsinki Final Act. New
crises must be prevented."
"We underscore the need to contribute effectively, based on the
capacity and national interest of each participating State, to collective
international efforts to promote a stable, independent, prosperous and
democratic Afghanistan."
The declaration calls for an action plan to be developed under the
leadership of future chairmanships.
The Astana Summit was the OSCE's first since the Istanbul Summit in
1999.
Dalia Grybauskaite, the President of Lithuania, which will hold 2011
OSCE Chairmanship, said in her speech on Thursday: "Our goal in the OSCE
is clear - to build a true democratic security community without dividing
lines, where all the commitments are implemented, the use of force is
unthinkable and human rights and fundamental freedoms are fully respected."



.Russian regions promise worthy FIFA World Cup in 2018.

ROSTOV-ON-DON / KALININGRAD, December 3 (Itar-Tass) -- Russian regions
included into the 2018 FIFA World Cup bid said they were happy to host the
event and promised to do everything possible to comply with FIFA
requirements.
"I am convinced that Kaliningrad will perfectly prepare for the World
Cup and we guarantee hospitality and cordial welcome to the guests," said
Nikolai Tsukanov, the governor of the Baltic enclave on Thursday.
"Like all football fans I am very glad about the Russian victory.
World Cup games in our region will provide a mighty impulse to football
development while World Cup infrastructure will be inherited by our
children and grandchildren," he added.
Tsukanov said a stadium for 40 thousand supporters will be built in
the center of Kaliningrad.
Training pitches will be reconstructed and built in three districts
of the region located on the Baltic Sea coast.
Sport Minister of southern Rostov region Valery Vakula told Tass
Rostov-on-Don will erect a stadium to accommodate 45 thousand fans. The
blueprints of the stadium are ready.
"City authorities provided land in a picturesque place on the left
bank of the Don River (the city is located on the right bank). It will
meet all the most demanding requirements and enjoy broad infrastructure
comprising hotels, parkings, press centers, etc.," the minister said.
"No doubt the World Cup stage on the banks of the Don River will boost
local football," he said.

.Minor quake registered at north Kuril island.

VLADIVOSTOK, December 3 (Itar-Tass) -- A minor quake was registered
overnight at the north Kuril island of Paramushir.
Seismologists said the epicenter of the quake force 4.2 was located at
a depth of 130 kilometers close to the southeastern coast of the island.
No tremors were felt in the city of Severo-Kurilsk.
Ten earthquakes have been registered of late in the area of Kuril
Islands with the strongest of force 5.5. The tremors caused no damage to
the islands of Kunashir, Shikotan, Iturup and Paramushir.
-0-nec