Resolving protracted conflicts is also high on the list of the priorities of the Serbian OSCE Chairmanship, OSCE Chairperson-in-Office Ivica Dacic, told the U.S. Helsinki Commission at a hearing on 26 February in Washington, D.C.

Dacic voiced support for continued efforts within the existing negotiating formats as well as taking small steps to build confidence between the parties.

Strong engagement from the United States remained essential to the fulfilment of the OSCE’s mission, he stressed.

“The OSCE provides a unique format through which the United States can contribute to European security. The OSCE is broadly inclusive, providing an increasingly important bridge between the Euro-Atlantic and Eurasian regions,” he said.

The Chairperson-in-Office said OSCE had been continuously engaged in trying to find a diplomatic solution to the Ukraine crisis, bringing all the key stakeholders to the table, and keeping critical lines of communication open.

“The Serbian Chairmanship will make every effort to help restore peace in Ukraine and to rebuild trust and confidence across the OSCE region,” he said.