Lamberto Zannier re-appointed OSCE Secretary General

BERN/VIENNA, 15 May 2014 - Foreign ministers from the 57 OSCE participating States have taken a consensus decision to extend the term of the OSCE Secretary General, Ambassador Lamberto Zannier of Italy, for another three years.

The OSCE Chairperson-in-Office and Swiss Foreign Minister, Didier Burkhalter, welcoming Zannier’s reappointment, commended the Secretary General for his work at the helm of the OSCE in promoting the Organization’s shared values, ensuring its effective functioning and addressing common security threats.

As participating States face a multitude of security challenges, the OSCE is an ever more important platform for dialogue and cooperative solutions, Burkhalter noted, expressing his confidence that Zannier’s experience and expertise will continue to serve the organization well.

Zannier took up the position of OSCE Secretary General in July 2011. A career diplomat, Zannier was the Director of the OSCE Conflict Prevention Centre from 2002 to 2006. From 2008 to June 2011, he served as UN Special Representative for Kosovo and the Head of the UN Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo.

Zannier’s second term will start 1 July 2014.

The OSCE Secretary General acts as the representative of the Chairperson-in-Office, and as the OSCE’s Chief Administrative Officer. He is appointed by the Ministerial Council for a period of three years, and may be renewed for another term.