Role of OSCE discussed at Minsk conference

MINSK, 14 October 2008 - The role of the OSCE and the way the Organization deals with contemporary challenges were discussed at a conference in Minsk today.

The event brought together more than 100 students and professors of the faculties of International Relations and Law of Belarus State University. It was organized by the OSCE Office in Minsk and the State University and supported by the Foreign Ministry.

"Improving the curriculum of the University on international organizations and international relations is a goal we share with the Belarusian State University," said Ambassador Hans-Jochen Schmidt, the Head of the Office in Minsk.

He added that the Office has arranged a visit by Belarusian experts at the end of October to the OSCE Secretariat in Vienna to get a first-hand insight into the way the Organization functions.

"Our co-operation should be further developed since Belarus is an active member of the OSCE," he said.

Victor Shadursky, the Dean of the Faculty of International Relations, added: "Belarus is one of the 56 OSCE participating States, and we are very interested in the history, and current developments within the OSCE, and the role it plays in the region in resolving different international issues."

Frank Evers from the CORE Institute in Hamburg was invited as an independent expert on the OSCE.