Foreign ministers of the pan-European Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe ended their two-day annual meeting in Sofia by pledging to enhance their counter-terrorism efforts.
Ending the 12th OSCE Ministerial Council, they adopted one Declaration, two statements and 18 Decisions on a range of issues including fighting terrorism, curbing illegal small arms and light weapons, promoting tolerance and non-discrimination and combating corruption.
Chairman-in-Office Solomon Passy – the foreign minister of Bulgaria – described the Organisation as a vital instrument for ensuring security and stability in the OSCE region and an example and inspiration for other parts of the world.
"I appeal to all participating States to make full use of the OSCE as a key forum for political dialogue and cooperative security," he said. "The OSCE, which is 10 years old this year, has a rich history. We must build on the legacy left to us by the founding fathers of the Helsinki Process and ensure that the OSCE remains a beacon of hope for a new generation facing new challenges."
Ministers did not agree a Ministerial Declaration because of lack of consensus in certain areas. Instead, the Chairman-in-Office delivered a closing statement which summarised areas of agreement and had the support of the majority of delegations.
"In such a large Organisation, we could not expect unanimity of opinion on all the issues," Minister Passy said. "In my opinion, it is better to acknowledge our differences frankly rather than agree on some lowest-common-denominator language of little substance. In the months and years ahead, we will continue to work intensively to achieve lasting settlements in Georgia, Moldova and Nagorno-Karabakh. Courageous decisions will be required from all the parties concerned and the OSCE must remain fully engaged."
The Chairman-in-Office welcomed the strong support expressed by participating States for assisting Ukraine in its democratic development, one of the key topics discussed in Sofia.
"This Ministerial Council confirmed that the OSCE stands ready to assist Ukraine so that the re-run of the second-round elections will genuinely reflect the will of the Ukrainian people. This is cooperative security in action and demonstrates the continued vital relevance of the OSCE," he said.
The Chairman’s Statement said OSCE foreign ministers pledged to further enhance the Organisation’s anti-terrorism efforts with practical and effective measures.
"All participating States will intensify efforts to strengthen pluralist democracy, civil society and the rule of law and ensure full respect and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms," the statement added.
