OSCE Secretary General Schmid concludes visit to Oslo

VIENNA, 7 November 2022 – The OSCE Secretary General Helga Maria Schmid visited Oslo from 3 to 4 November to meet with Foreign Minister Anniken Huitfeldt and other officials to discuss issues in the OSCE region including the energy crisis, the security impacts of climate change, and the ongoing war against Ukraine.

“Norway has long been a leader when it comes to multilateral co-operation in support of inclusive and sustainable peace and security. Norway is a steadfast supporter of the OSCE, politically and practically, and I am grateful for our continued co-operation,” said Schmid.

During the visit the Secretary General also met with Norwegian politicians who are members of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly as well as the Norwegian Helsinki Committee and other members of civil society, and representatives from the Norwegian Refugee Council’s NORDEM programme. In addition, she met with analysts at the Norwegian Institute of International Affairs (NUPI) – including students from the OSCE Academy in Bishkek – to discuss the OSCE’s role across the OSCE region in the context of the war against Ukraine. NUPI works closely with the OSCE Academy – including by hosting students in Oslo each year. The Academy promotes regional cooperation, conflict prevention and good governance in Central Asia through offering higher education, professional training and intellectual exchange. It is one of many initiatives within the OSCE that provides opportunities to engage with youth on peace and security – a priority for the OSCE and Norway alike.

The OSCE and Norway continue to enhance co-operation in a range of areas that benefit Norway and countries across the OSCE region and the Secretary General’s visit helped to advance this co-operation further.

“This summer we signed a new co-operation agreement with Norway that helps to advance the OSCE’s work on everything from Security Sector Governance and Reform to gender equality and media freedom. This kind of support will help ensure that the vital work the OSCE is doing to advance sustainable security continues to have a positive impact for the more than 1.3 billion people we serve across the 57 countries in the OSCE region.”

Norway is also one of the contributors to the new donor-funded Support Programme for Ukraine. The programme consists of 23 different projects that will build on prior work with OSCE’s long-standing partners in Ukraine and cover activities that include supporting humanitarian de-mining efforts, improving disaster risk reduction, and supporting the reform efforts of the Ukrainian government.