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New Chairman-in-Office outlines priorities for 2001
OSCE participating States must make a greater collective effort to respect individual human rights and to open a path away from violence arising from ethnic hatred or organized crime, said Romanian Foreign Minister Mircea Dan Geoana, incoming OSCE Chairman-in-Office, in his first address to the OSCE Permanent Council.
Romania at the helm
Romania has taken on its mandate to carry out the roles and responsibilities of the Chairmanship of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe during 2001. The Chairmanship changes annually, and the post of Chairman-in-Office is held by the Foreign Minister of a participating State. Romanian Foreign Minister Mircea Dan Geoana will hold the position of Chairman-in-Office.
On 11 January 2001, he addressed the OSCE Permanent Council, the Organization's main decision-making body, for the first time. He also met with journalists at a press conference.
Greater collective effort
In his speech, Foreign Minister Geoana called on OSCE participating States to make a greater collective effort to respect individual human rights, to encourage access to prosperity, social justice and equal opportunity, and to open a path away from violence arising from ethnic hatred or organized crime (full text of speech).
"We want to develop new ideas for strengthening political dialogue between OSCE States," Mr. Geoana said. "We want the OSCE to be known as the Organization, which produces concrete results, not only resolutions -- results which could impact in a positive way on people's lives."
Focus on the security of individuals
He noted that the Romanian Chairmanship wants to promote the security of the individual and develop more focussed activity in areas such as promoting open and tolerant societies and eliminating threats to the safety of citizens.
"We intend to focus attention on new problems and issues, such as trafficking in human beings, children in armed conflict, the integration of refugees and displaced persons," he said. "Later this year we will host a conference in Bucharest on Roma and Sinti issues. The objective will be to assess those programs and projects implemented during the last few years designed to eliminate discrimination and further integration of the Roma in their respective societies."
Improving co-operation
"We must improve co-operation between the OSCE and other European and Euro-Atlantic institutions," he said. "We need to work in tandem with other organizations, and with the NGO community, valuable partners whose experience and views will be of enormous benefit to our work."
He said that under Romanian Chairmanship, conflict prevention, crisis management and post-conflict rehabilitation will continue to be priority areas for the OSCE. The Organization will also consider ways to strengthen its ability to address economic and environmental issues, and further refine tasks in areas such as good governance and transparency.
Romania has taken on its mandate to carry out the roles and responsibilities of the Chairmanship of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe during 2001. The Chairmanship changes annually, and the post of Chairman-in-Office is held by the Foreign Minister of a participating State. Romanian Foreign Minister Mircea Dan Geoana will hold the position of Chairman-in-Office.
On 11 January 2001, he addressed the OSCE Permanent Council, the Organization's main decision-making body, for the first time. He also met with journalists at a press conference.
Greater collective effort
In his speech, Foreign Minister Geoana called on OSCE participating States to make a greater collective effort to respect individual human rights, to encourage access to prosperity, social justice and equal opportunity, and to open a path away from violence arising from ethnic hatred or organized crime (full text of speech).
"We want to develop new ideas for strengthening political dialogue between OSCE States," Mr. Geoana said. "We want the OSCE to be known as the Organization, which produces concrete results, not only resolutions -- results which could impact in a positive way on people's lives."
Focus on the security of individuals
He noted that the Romanian Chairmanship wants to promote the security of the individual and develop more focussed activity in areas such as promoting open and tolerant societies and eliminating threats to the safety of citizens.
"We intend to focus attention on new problems and issues, such as trafficking in human beings, children in armed conflict, the integration of refugees and displaced persons," he said. "Later this year we will host a conference in Bucharest on Roma and Sinti issues. The objective will be to assess those programs and projects implemented during the last few years designed to eliminate discrimination and further integration of the Roma in their respective societies."
Improving co-operation
"We must improve co-operation between the OSCE and other European and Euro-Atlantic institutions," he said. "We need to work in tandem with other organizations, and with the NGO community, valuable partners whose experience and views will be of enormous benefit to our work."
He said that under Romanian Chairmanship, conflict prevention, crisis management and post-conflict rehabilitation will continue to be priority areas for the OSCE. The Organization will also consider ways to strengthen its ability to address economic and environmental issues, and further refine tasks in areas such as good governance and transparency.
11 January 2001
OSCE Chairman-in-office, Mircea Geoana, addresses the issue of terrorism at a special press conference, 21 September 2001. (Mark Sarfati/OSCE)
"We want the OSCE to be known as the Organization, which produces concrete results"OSCE Chairman-in-Office, Romanian Foreign Minister Geoana