The activities of the United Nations (UN) and the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) in Central Asia (CA), despite the external similarity of the tasks set, are often multidirectional. The UN is mainly concerned with global security challenges, while the OSCE is more concerned with human rights and promoting democracy in its Western interpretation. Key words: UN, OSCE, Central Asia, Kazakhstan's OSCE chairmanship, "tulip revolution". THE UNITED NATIONS IN CENTRAL ASIA Maintaining world peace and security is the main mission of the United Nations. This international organization also contributes to the general development, deepening of international cooperation, preserving the sovereignty, political independence and territorial integrity of its member States, and resolving disputes between them by peaceful means. At the same time, today the UN does not have the necessary military and financial capabilities for constructive actions in individual regions and States, and therefore increasingly provides assistance to regional organizations and associations. They play a leading role in taking concrete measures to ensure regional security. The international legal framework for such cooperation is set out in the UN Charter in Chapter VIII, Article 52 [Charter ..., 1994, p. 35-36]. These organizations and associations should contribute to the peaceful resolution of conflicts before they are submitted to the UN Security Council for discussion. Article 33 of Chapter VI provides for the resolution of disputes and conflict situations that threaten global peace and security, primarily at the regional level, and in case of unsolvable situations, an appeal to the UN Security Council [Ibid.]. At the same time, some outdated provisions of the Charter prevent more active interaction between the UN and regional organizations and associations in the field of maintaining global peace and security. Article 53 provides that regional organizations and associations m ... Read more