First Secretary General appointed

15 June 1993: The CSCECSCE
Conference on Security and Co-operation in Europe's first Secretary General, Dr. Wilhelm Höynck of Germany, takes up his official duties, following the establishment of the post at the Stockholm Meeting of the Council of Ministers in December 1992.

The CSCE's first Secretary General, Dr. Wilhelm Höynck of Germany, took up his official duties on 15 June 1993, following the establishment of the post the previous year by the Council of Ministers.

The post of Secretary General was created by the CSCE Council of Ministers of Foreign Affairs at their Third Meeting, which was held in Stockholm on 14-15 December 1992.

The Ministers noted in their Stockholm decision that: "The Secretary General will derive his/her authority from the collective decisions of the participating States and will act under the guidance of the Chairman-in-Office.

"The Secretary General will be appointed by the Council by consensus upon recommendation of the Committee of Senior Officials (CSO) and Chairman-in-Office for a period of three years. This period may be extended for one further term of two years," they added.

CSO recommends Höynck as first SG

The CSO, at its 21st meeting in Prague on 26-28 April 1993, recommended that a senior German diplomat, Ambassador Wilhelm Höynck be appointed as the CSCE's first Secretary General.

Ambassador Höynck would be appointed for a period of three years beginning on 15 June 1993, and the post would be located in Vienna, the CSO added.

The post of CSCE/OSCE Secretary General has been held by four diplomats, all highly experienced in international affairs. They are:

• Ambassador Wilhelm Höynck (Germany, 1993-1996)
• Ambassador Giancarlo Aragona (Italy, 1996-1999)
• Ambassador Jan Kubis (Slovak Republic, 1999-2005)
• Ambassador Marc Perrin de Brichambaut (France, 2005 to date)