OSCE Secretary General welcomes multi-country think tank initiative

OSCE Secretary General Lamberto Zannier welcomed a joint research initiative of France, Germany, Poland and Russia announced at the start of the OSCE Ministerial Council on 6 December 2011.

The initiative will be conducted in 2012 by four independent research institutes – the Centre for OSCE Research in Hamburg, Fondation pour la Recherche Stratégique in Paris, the Moscow State Institute of International Relations, and the Polish Institute of International Affairs in Warsaw.

The Track II initiative aims to develop ideas to put the vision of a “free, democratic, common and indivisible Euro-Atlantic and Eurasian security community,” articulated at the December 2010 Astana OSCE Summit, into practice, and to take forward the idea announced by the OSCE Secretary General in his inaugural speech in July 2011 to develop an OSCE network of academic institutions.

“Promoting a vigorous exchange of ideas and ensuring that the policy insights of leading experts enrich the thinking and work of the OSCE are important priorities for me personally. I heartily welcome the initiative of France, Germany, Poland and Russia announced by the ministers today,” said Zannier.

“I look forward to the results of this joint project. I am confident that its findings and recommendations will provide a fresh impetus for dialogue and for action, and ultimately help bring us closer to our shared goal of a Euro-Atlantic and Eurasian security community.”