OSCE Chairperson Lajčák wraps up trip to South-Eastern Europe with visit to Mission in Kosovo, one of the OSCE’s largest field missions

PRISHTINË/PRIŠTINA, 21 June 2019 –  The OSCE Chairperson-in-Office and Slovakia’s Foreign and European Affairs Minister, Miroslav Lajčák, concluded today his trip to the three OSCE field operations in South-Eastern Europe with a visit to the OSCE Mission in Kosovo.

When Slovakia took over the OSCE Chairmanship in January 2019, it promised to prioritize visits to the OSCE field operations.

“We believed that we could only effectively fulfil our role as the OSCE Chairmanship if we were aware of the work being done on the ground. Being in Prishtinë/Priština today as the first Chairperson-in-Office since 2014 and visiting the Organization’s biggest field Mission - with the exception of the Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine - is a fulfilment of this promise. I want to learn more about that work from those who are implementing it every day,” Lajčák stressed.

In the last 20 years, the OSCE Mission in Kosovo has become a trusted partner, working towards the shared goal of developing a democratic and multi-ethnic society based on European principles and values.

The OSCE Chairperson had the opportunity to engage with representatives from the OSCE field presence in Kosovo, during which he emphasized his appreciation for their important work. He also visited four regional centres of the OSCE Mission: Prishtinë/Priština, Mitrovica/Mitrovicë North, Mitrovica/Mitrovicë South and Graçanicë /Gračanica.

Chairperson Lajčák met with representatives of the institutions in Prishtinë/Priština, Mitrovicë/Mitrovica and Graçanicë /Gračanica, including with Prime Minister Ramush Haradinaj and Deputy Prime Ministers Behgjet Pacolli and Fatmir Limaj.

He also met with Member of Parliament Slobodan Petrović; Mayor of Prishtinë/Priština Shpend Ahmeti; Mayor of Mitrovicë/Mitrovica South Agim Bahtiri and Mayor of Mitrovicë/Mitrovica North Goran Rakić.

In his meetings, Chairperson Lajčák expressed the OSCE’s gratitude for the good relations with the authorities, which have led to joint efforts to consolidate gains made in the areas of democracy, human rights, and good governance. A firm believer in dialogue, the OSCE Chairperson also discussed possibilities for further OSCE support in various areas, including the EU-led normalization dialogue between Belgrade and Prishtinë/Priština, combating unemployment and disenfranchisement of young people, enhancing regional co-operation, and advancing reconciliation.

Moreover, Chairperson Lajčák encouraged the authorities to accelerate efforts to implement reforms, particularly those in relation to the judiciary, corruption and the rule of law, organized crime, and electoral processes, and to make full use of the OSCE’s expert support and technical assistance in these areas.

In meeting with civil society representatives and religious leaders, Lajčák stressed the importance of inter-ethnic and inter-faith dialogue for promoting tolerance and reconciliation among all communities.

To highlight the need to bridge inter-ethnic divides and promote reconciliation of the population on both sides of the Ibar River, the OSCE Chair crossed the main bridge in Mitrovicë/Mitrovica, which connects the communities on the North and the South.