The OSCE Chairman-in-Office, Belgian Foreign Minister Karel De Gucht, called today for political leaders to show vision and take responsibility to help solve "frozen conflicts" that threaten to erupt anew at any time. "The 'frozen conflicts' remind us that peace is never permanent; it is something to which attention must be paid each and every day," said the Chairman-in-Office. He said Belgium - which chairs the OSCE this year - had tried to help solve the unresolved conflicts on OSCE territory.

"It must be admitted, unfortunately, that it has done so without much in the way of results - at least so far," Minister De Gucht said. "In some respects, the hopes of seeing decisive progress in Nagorno Karabakh have been dashed. Tension in the South Caucasus remains high - worryingly so. Negotiations on the Transdniestria issue have stalled." The Chairman-in-Office said the outlines for solving the conflicts were well known and elements for settling them were already on the table. "The key was political will", he said, reported the OSCE communication unit.