OSCE eager to intensify partnership with UN, says Chairperson Dačić during UN Security Council briefing

NEW YORK, 25 February – Briefing the UN Security Council on Serbia’s Chairmanship priorities and co-operation between the OSCE and the UN, OSCE Chairperson in Office, Serbia’s First Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ivica Dačić, said that partnership between the two organizations is extremely  important for effectively addressing security challenges in the Euro-Atlantic and Eurasian space.

“All OSCE structures work with a wide range of UN entities to enhance security in all three dimensions across the OSCE area and in adjacent regions. We highly value this close cooperation. We are eager to make it more operational and result oriented,” said Dačić. “Both the OSCE and the UN field operations are precious assets, and their potential for co-operation should be exploited to the maximum.”

Speaking about the situation in Ukraine and its impact on the broader OSCE agenda, Dačić said that Serbia’s Chairmanship “comes during the worst crisis of European security since the end of the Cold War”, and that Serbia would do its best to contribute to a diplomatic solution in an impartial and transparent manner.

“The OSCE response to the current crisis has once again demonstrated its relevance to European security” said Dačić. “Serbia recognizes that both the OSCE and European security are at a critical juncture and is fully committed to working with the main stakeholders to restore peace and stability in Ukraine. Our highest priority is to protect the inclusive and co-operative nature of the OSCE’s work both in responding to the crisis in and around Ukraine and when it comes to addressing broader issues of European security.”

UN Security Council members offered their full support to Serbia’s OSCE Chairmanship and its priorities, emphasizing the importance of the OSCE in the international arena, especially in the light of its engagement in dealing with the crisis in Ukraine.

Chairperson Dačić was accompanied by the OSCE Secretary General Lamberto Zannier.