Security of Europe and Asia are indivisible, says Mongolia’s Foreign Minister outlining priorities of Mongolian Chairmanship of OSCE Forum for Security Co-operation

VIENNA, 20 January 2015 – Mongolian Foreign Minister H.E. Mr. Lundeg Purevsuren today outlined priorities of the Mongolian Chairmanship of the OSCE Forum for Security Co-operation for the first trimester of 2015 at the first meeting of the Forum this year in Vienna, pledging to further expand the dialogue and co-operation with the OSCE Asian Partners and foster security in the region.

Purevsuren stressed that the crisis in and around Ukraine will remain a priority for the Forum. “Further efforts should be made towards bringing peace in eastern Ukraine through full implementation of the Minsk agreements,” he said.  

Other  priorities will focus on the implementation of the decisions related to politico-military security made at the OSCE Ministerial Council in Basel at the end of 2014, including on small arms and light weapons and stockpiles of conventional ammunition, terrorism, the OSCE Code of Conduct on Politico-Military Aspects of Security and enhancing women’s role in conflict prevention.

“One of the most dangerous threats that we face today is the threat of terrorism, including the return of foreign fighters,” he said, condemning the horrific attack on the satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo earlier this month. “Not only must we condemn such attacks, but also unite to prevent and fight against them.”

“Particular emphasis has to be put on eliminating the threats posed by nuclear weapons,” said Purevsuren. “Let us not forget that 2015 marks the 70^th anniversary of the use of nuclear weapons in Hiroshima and Nagasaki”.

Purevsuren expressed Mongolia’s full support for the Serbian Chairmanship of the OSCE and its Troika partners, Switzerland and Germany, and pledged to make a positive contribution to the Helsinki +40 process, in which participating States are charting the OSCE’s future as it approaches the 40^th anniversary of the Helsinki Final Act.

Mongolia has assumed the Forum for Security Co-operation’s rotating Chairmanship for the first four months of 2015, following Monaco and preceding Montenegro, which will take over the Chairmanship in May 2015.