TIRANA, July 11 /ATA/ – Albania presented the preliminary framework of the country’s OSCE Chairmanship priorities during a meeting the Permanent Council in Vienna, Austria, on Thursday.
The news was announced by the acting Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, considering the presentations of the incoming Chair’s priorities as a crucial moment in determining Albania’s OSCE Chairmanship in 2020 and their approval by the OSCE’s participating states.
“The preliminary framework of Albania’s Chair priorities was highly praised by the participating states. Briefly, Albanian Chair’s priorities run across all three dimensions of the OSCE’s comprehensive concept of security. “Conflict resolution and conflict prevention efforts will be on top of the Albanian Chair’s agenda, beginning with renewed actions to contribute towards a peaceful solution of the crisis in and around Ukraine, which remains the most pressing security challenge in Europe. While we welcome recent positive developments, such as the completion of disengagement near Stanytsia Luhanska – which shows once again that progress is possible if there is political will – we remain worried by the number of ceasefire violations and by the frequency of threats against OSCE monitors. As a country hosting an OSCE field operation, Albania will strongly support the action of the OSCE on the ground, starting from the unique contribution to peace and stability made by the staff of the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine; the role of women in peace processes under the United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325; addressing transnational threats, from countering violent extremism and radicalism to cyber/ICT security; combating trafficking in human beings,” Cakaj said.
In the meantime – Cakaj went on saying – Albanian Chairmanship will also focus on the economic and environmental dimension, the fight against corruption and the promotion of good governance; promotion of the balance between environment protection and the development policies.
“In the human dimension, the Albanian Chair will dedicate resources and efforts to promote tolerance and non-discrimination in order to foster a stronger sense of security in OSCE participating States,” Cakaj said.
Cakaj also said “it is worth highlighting that youth will be a cross-dimensional priority for the Albanian Chair and youth would play a central role. Albania is committed to offering an active, effective and strong OSCE Chairmanship in 2020.”
Albania will take over the OSCE Chair from Slovakia on 1 January 2020.
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