Strengthening co-operation to overcome common challenges focus of OSCE Mediterranean Conference in Jordan

VIENNA/AMMAN, 25 October 2022 – Advancing security and co-operation in the Mediterranean and OSCE regions is at the heart of the 2022 OSCE Mediterranean Conference that began today in Jordan.

The conference, organized by North Macedonia as the 2022 Chair of the Mediterranean Partners Group, and hosted by the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, builds on the OSCE’s continued efforts to develop both security and dialogue with its Mediterranean Partners.

“There cannot be a safe and secure Europe without a stable and prosperous Mediterranean region. Our nations deserve to live in peace and dignity in a world ruled by international law and shared commitments. The OSCE stands ready to pursue these goals together with our Mediterranean partners,” said OSCE Chairman-in-Office, Polish Foreign Minister Zbigniew Rau.

“We cannot remain silent and indifferent to the current disturbing realities in the OSCE area. We have been faced with the constant degradation of European security architecture over at least a decade now. But today, a total disregard for international norms and commitments by the Russian Federation resulted in a full-scale war against Ukraine,” he underlined.

“This year’s Mediterranean Conference shall also be a turning point. While our efforts to stop the war against Ukraine fail short in the warring face of the Russian Federation, this is not time for defeatism, but active engagement. We should use this forum to reiterate the security interdependence between our neighboring regions, tackling together – constructively and in a spirit of true partnership – priorities that touch the lives of all of our citizens,” added Bujar Osmani, Minister of Foreign of North Macedonia.

“North Macedonia’s chairmanship priorities relate to the topics of discussion of the 2022 OSCE Mediterranean Conference. The empowerment of youth, women, managing the climate crisis and the fight against trafficking in human beings are issues important to all of us regardless which side of the Mediterranean we are on. We are sharing the weight of today’s uncertainty and thus we should share the burden of responsibility for active co-operation and engagement. The burden of responsibility lies with all Participating States and partners. It lies with all of us,” he added.

“We are working together in a spirit of partnership to ensure a better future for our region, which also requires that we work together to tackle crises that are continuing to impede the progress in this part of the world and have implications that not only affect us, but affect Europe as well, given that we are one neighborhood. This conference is a good opportuning for seeing how we can work together in facing those challenges, to put on the table many of the crises that continue to haunt this region, the center of which is the Palestinian Israeli conflict, which is key to peace and stability in the region, and beyond. Achieving comprehensive, just, and lasting peace on the basis of the two-state solution, is the only solution that we believe people will accept and embrace. Our efforts to find political solutions to tragic crises in Syria, Yemen, Libya, and the collective responsibility towards refugees crises, is of paramount importance to ensure the enduring defeat of terrorism, as well as to create lasting security and stability for our future generations,” emphasized Ayman Safadi, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Jordan.

“Already the Helsinki Final Act from 1975 recognised that the security of Europe and the Mediterranean are interconnected. This has only grown in the years since. We have developed a close partnership and cooperate on topics ranging from strengthening the role of youth in our societies, to combatting trafficking in human beings and women’s economic empowerment. This is truly a mutually beneficial partnership and I look forward to even deepen it in the year to come,” said OSCE Secretary General Helga Maria Schmid.

The Mediterranean Partners for Co-operation include Algeria, Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Morocco and Tunisia. With the OSCE, these nations are able to engage in bilateral dialogue and assistance resulting in meaningful co-operation across all three of the OSCE’s dimensions.