OSCE chairperson-in-office: We sought to promote security in South Caucasus

The OSCE Ministerial Council started its work in Basel on Thursday bringing together ministers from 57 member states and 11 partners.

The foreign ministers will discuss the Ukraine crisis and common challenges within and beyond the OSCE area.

In his opening remarks, OSCE chairperson-in-office Didier Burkhalter emphasized that the Ukraine crisis has fuelled a broader crisis of European security that has been in the making for years.

He admitted that security has deteriorated markedly in Europe, and called on the delegates to take good care of the OSCE.

“ Let us take good care of it because an effective OSCE strengthens the security of all our nations and our people,” he said.

Didier Burkhalter reminded about a tableau with ten priorities of the Swiss Chairmanship, adding that irrespective of the Ukraine crisis, “we have been working hard to advance those priorities” .

“In three Chairmanship trips, we sought to promote security and cooperation in the Western Balkans, South Caucasus, and Central Asia, and discussed respective OSCE roles,” he emphasized.