Expert meeting seeks to strengthen OSCE crisis response

The potential for enhancing early response to crises and emerging conflicts is the focus of a meeting in Vienna on 20 September 2011 hosted by the Lithuanian OSCE Chairmanship and the OSCE Conflict Prevention Centre.

This is the fourth and final event in a series of meetings on early warning, conflict prevention, crisis management and post-conflict rehabilitation organized by the Lithuanian Chairmanship under the “V to V Dialogue” (Vancouver to Vladivostok via Vienna and Vilnius). 

“This is the moment when we should collectively take stock of what has been proposed and discussed since our first informal meeting at the Ambassadors’ level on 15 March.  More importantly, we should take this opportunity to decide on a way forward,” said Lithuanian Ambassador Renatas Norkus, the Chairperson of the OSCE Permanent Council, referring to the Chairmanship’s proposal to adopt a relevant Ministerial Council Decision reflecting the collective commitment of 56 participating States to preserve and further strengthen the OSCE’s role in preventing and managing crisis and conflict situations.

“The need to respond to potential crisis situations before they evolve into conflict is clear. Now the time has come to demonstrate our political will,” he added.