OSCE Chair and US Vice President Joe Biden: discussions on Ukraine

WASHINGTON DC, 26 February 2014 – The OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, Swiss Foreign Minister and President of the Confederation Didier Burkhalter met US Vice President Joe Biden yesterday, with discussions focussing on Ukraine.

Burkhalter stressed the need for a fair and inclusive process of transition to ensure that no part of Ukraine or its communities are marginalised. The OSCE can play an important role in helping to overcome the crisis, Burkhalter said.

During the morning, Burkhalter also met members of the US Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe, more commonly known as the US Helsinki Commission. Burkhalter outlined the priorities of the Swiss OSCE Chairmanship 2014 and spoke on the crisis in Ukraine, highlighting various measures the OSCE Chairmanship has proposed to build trust and to foster dialogue in Ukraine. Switzerland appreciated the close cooperation with the US on a wide range of OSCE issues, Burkhalter told the Commission.

On February 24th, Burkhalter met civil society representatives in Washington DC to discuss the human rights situation in the USA. Topics included respect of human rights in combating terrorism, conditions in detention, prevention of torture and the abolition of the death penalty.

Enhanced and systematic involvement of civil society in the work of the OSCE is one of the priorities of the Swiss Chairmanship in 2014.