OSCE Chairman-in-Office Zbigniew Rau concludes his visit to Moscow

MOSCOW, 16 February 2022 — The OSCE Chairman-in-Office, Poland’s Minister for Foreign Affairs Zbigniew Rau, concluded his first official visit as OSCE Chairman to Moscow on 15 February.

During his meeting with Foreign Minister of the Russian Federation Sergey Lavrov, the Chairman-in-Office emphasized the need to continue a constructive dialogue based on the principles of international law and engagement in existing OSCE mechanisms, in order to reduce tensions in the region. He also pointed out the potential benefits of the recently presented concept of the Renewed European Security Dialogue.

“The Renewed Dialogue which I presented in Vienna on 8 February is an important initiative by the Polish OSCE Chairmanship amidst the current tense security situation in the region. I hope that Russia will actively engage in this initiative,” said Minister Rau.

“I believe that this initiative represents an opportunity to revitalize the OSCE and strengthen its importance within the European security architecture. That is why I hope that the Russia will support the Chairmanship’s efforts in this respect,” added Minister Rau.

The initiative is an effort to dialogue on both practical security aspects as well as conceptual matters, including the interpretation of the principles of comprehensive and indivisible security, the importance of which was raised by Russia during recent meetings.

“Naturally, the tense security situation in eastern Ukraine, including the build-up of military forces along its borders, continues to be a priority topic for the Polish Chairmanship. As OSCE Chair, we support the efforts of the Trilateral Contact Group, as well as the negotiators of the Normandy Format, to reinvigorate conflict resolution efforts and break the deadlock in negotiations. Progress needs to be made so the local population can finally enjoy lasting stability and security in their daily lives,” said the OSCE Chairman-in-Office.

Moreover, Minister Rau stressed the need to make sure that the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine (SMM) can operate without restrictions and fulfil its mandate.

Chairman-in-Office Rau also met with Russian civil society representatives and human rights experts. “As the OSCE Chairman, I will spare no effort to make sure that human dimension of the OSCE should not be overshadowed by other issues. Respect for the rights of individuals is a guarantee of peace,” he underscored.