7th Ministerial Council

OSCE Foreign Ministers met in Oslo on 2 and 3 December to review the role and activities of the OSCE, especially its contributions to meeting current risks and challenges to security. The crisis in Kosovo was a central topic of discussion.

In the Oslo Declaration, Ministers stressed that respect for OSCE principles and the implementation of OSCE commitments remain fundamental to security.

They agreed that the OSCE should intensify efforts in solving territorial conflicts in Georgia. They also called for reinvigorating negotiations on the status of the Trans Dniestrian region through the facilitation efforts of the OSCE Mission to Moldova and the Russian and Ukrainian mediators.

The Chairman-in-Office urged the parties to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict to resume negotiations in the framework of the OSCE Minsk Group.

Jordan was welcomed as a new Mediterranean Partner for Co-operation.

Final Decisions and Declarations

The following final decisions and declarations were adopted at the 7th OSCE Ministerial Council in Oslo:

• Oslo Ministerial Declaration
• Decision on Georgia
• Decision on Moldova
• Decision on a Document-Charter on European Security: The Way Ahead
• Decision on the further operational strengthening of the OSCE
• Decision on enhancement of the OSCE’s operational capabilities regarding Roma and Sinti issues
• Decision on the location of the Office of the High Commissioner on National Minorities
• Decision on Central Asia
• Decision on the Chairmanship in the Year 2000

The full texts of the decisions and declarations can be found in the Final Document of the 7th OSCE Ministerial Council.