Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Leonid Kozhara announced on Thursday his country’s priorities for the 2013 OSCE Chairmanship, with the progress on resolution of protracted conflicts, combating trafficking in human beings and promotion of the media freedom amongst key issues.

Addressing the OSCE Permanent Council, he said that Ukraine’s priorities for 2013 include assisting parties in protracted conflicts to find political solutions, with a focus on re-energizing existing formats for negotiation. They include negotiations on the Transdniestrian settlement, the Geneva Discussions on the August 2008 conflict in Georgia and talks on Nagorno-Karabakh led by the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs.

“We are convinced that the so-called protracted conflicts continue to represent a serious threat to our regional stability. Helping the parties to find a political solution should remain the highest priority for the OSCE, the Chairmanship and for all participating States,” Minister Kozhara said.

Later, answering reporters’ questions he stressed that Ukraine is one of the most interested nations in peaceful settlement of the protracted conflicts as “we have border with Moldova, while South Caucasus lies to the east of our borders.”