OSCE Foreign Ministers meet in Athens

 

Athens, 1 and 2 December 2009 – The Foreign ministers of the OSCE participating States have gathered in a two-days meeting in Athens. The main issue discussed was the continuation of the dialogue on European security, which was topical already in the Informal meeting of the Foreign ministers on Corfu Island in June 2009. The participants were greeted by the Greek President Karolos Papulias and the Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou. Slovenian Foreign minister Samuel Žbogar also attended the meeting.

The Greek Prime Minister Papandreou underlined that last years’ events prove that providing security is still a challenge. New threats affect all States. This is the reason why the cooperation among the OSCE participating States in order to enhance security is of key importance. In his speech, the Slovenian Foreign minister Samuel Žbogar pointed out the role of the OSCE, which is- despite the changes since the Helsinki Final Act in 1975- still alive and substantial. Nevertheless, the organization has to adapt to the new global challenges, such as growing poverty, consequences of the financial crisis, climate change, migration, terrorism and different forms of organized crime. The activity of the OSCE has to be based on a cross- dimensional approach to security. As an example of good practice Minister Žbogar mentioned regional cooperation in demining in Central Asia, which was presented jointly by Slovenia and the OSCE at the conference in Dushanbe. The minister repeated Slovenia’s support for the work of the ODIHR and commended the Greek OSCE Chairmanship, especially for initiating the Corfu process, in which the discussion on European security takes place. Minister Žbogar also supported the idea of an OSCE Summit next year. Since the last OSCE Summit in Istanbul in 1999 a lot has changed; therefore a summit would be an opportunity to reconfirm our common commitments and principals of this organization. 

 

 

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