Chairman-in-Office presents ideas to increase OSCE-UN co-operation

NEW YORK, 30 January 2001 - The Chairman-in-Office of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), Romanian Foreign Affairs Minister, Mircea Geoana attended an open private meeting of the UN Security Council in New York on Monday, 29 January. The topic of the meeting was co-operation between the UN and OSCE on issues of common interest to the two organizations.

The UN Security Council is the body with the highest international competence in taking decisions on global peace and security. This special meeting was the first time an OSCE Chairman-in-Office has been invited to address the Council in a meeting dedicated exclusively to the comprehensive area of co-operation. The meeting reflects efforts to increase transparency and a undertake a more pragmatic approach to improve efficiency and co-operation between the organizations.

In his address, and during the question and answer session, the Chairman-in-Office presented the priorities of the current Romanian OSCE Chairmanship and put forward ideas and concrete proposals aimed at improving the OSCE-UN co-operation framework. Mr. Geoana referred to the establishment of an efficient information exchange mechanism on existing and potential crises and lessons learned from common field missions; promotion of periodical joint assessments on developments in areas of mutual interest, and the appropriate participation of the two organizations in each other's meetings on topics of common concern.

He emphasized the operational dimension of the co-operation between the OSCE, as regional organization, and the UN, the organization with the unique global vocation. Mr. Geoana also highlighted the efforts of the Romanian OSCE Chairmanship to establish an ongoing and effective flow of information on the most relevant OSCE topics and events, as well as those of other international regional organizations.

Following the meeting, the Chairman-in-Office held a brief press conference.

The complete text of the address given during the special meeting of the UN Security Council can be found on the OSCE Chairmanship website, at /cio