OSCE foreign ministers to discuss security challenges in Dublin

DUBLIN, 5 December 2012 – OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, Ireland's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Eamon Gilmore today welcomed foreign ministers from the 57 OSCE participating States and 11 partner countries arriving in Dublin for the 19th OSCE Ministerial Council which begins tomorrow.

“I am delighted to welcome to Dublin colleagues from across the OSCE. Our meeting offers a useful opportunity to discuss the pressing security challenges in our region, as well as consolidate the important work we have undertaken as an organization over the last twelve months.”

The two-day meeting will bring together more than 50 Ministers to discuss security challenges in the OSCE region spanning North America, Europe, the Caucasus and Central Asia and provides an opportunity for the organization to set priority areas for future work.

“I urge my counterparts to work together to deliver a focused and balanced package of decisions that will further our aim of a common, comprehensive and indivisible security community,” said the Chairperson, who will open the meeting.

The Chairperson expressed his hope for progress on other priorities of this year’s Irish OSCE Chairmanship, including good governance, conflict resolution, media and internet freedom, tolerance and non-discrimination, and furthering military co-operation and transparency.

“Part of this package is the Irish Chairmanship’s Helsinki+40 proposal, which gives a longer-term perspective to our work as we approach the 40th anniversary of the OSCE’s landmark Helsinki Final Act in 2015, which defined our shared values and inclusive approach to security.”

The Chairperson will also receive a set of recommendations on the protection of human rights defenders developed by civil society groups who met in a parallel conference in Dublin today.

Plenary sessions will continue until 7 December. A news conference by the Chairperson will follow the conclusion of the meeting. Live webcasting of both will be available at: //www.osce.org/event/mc_2012/live.