Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Davor Ivo Stier 8 December in Hamburg attended the 23rd Ministerial Council of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE). The conference focused on Ukraine, terrorism, migrants and other security threats. The ministers also discussed strengthening the organization’s capacities to deal with modern security challenges.
In his address, Stier underlined the importance of the OSCE as a forum for dialogue and crisis-solving, and advocated respecting its principles in interstate relations. In regard to the crisis in Ukraine, Stier underscored the importance of implementing the Minsk Agreement and offered Ukraine Croatia’s know-how in post-conflict reconstruction and reform implementation.
Several participants stressed the role of the OSCE in the stabilization of Southeast Europe. Stier commended the cooperation between the EU and OSCE in minority rights, press freedom, the rule of law, human rights and election monitoring. He called on all OSCE field mission in Southeast Europe to get more strongly involved and assist host countries in achieving the standards needed for their European aspirations, notably in regard to the depoliticization of their justice systems. Stier said he expected the OSCE Mission in Bosnia and Herzegovina to be more active in ensuring institutional equality of all three constituent peoples. He applauded the announcement by Austria, who is to take over the OSCE presidency in 2017, that the Western Balkans would be one of its priorities.
Stier also attended a side event on arms control organized by German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier. Stier said that he supported Steinmeier’s initiative for better conventional arms control in Europe, noting the positive effects on the Agreement on Sub-Regional Arms Control.
On the margins of the ministerial meeting, Stier held talks with his counterparts from Ukraine, Georgia, Norway and Macedonia, as well as with secretary general of the Regional Cooperation Council.
The Hamburg conference marked the end of Norway’s OSCE presidency. Austria is to take over in 2017, while in 2018 the organization will be chaired by Italy.