State Secretary Andreja Metelko-Zgombić participated on 3 and 4 December 2020 in a meeting of the Ministerial Council of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE). The meeting focused on the crisis in Ukraine and other security threats in the OSCE area such as continued conflicts in Georgia, Moldova, Armenia and Azerbaijan.
Addressing the event, Metelko-Zgombić thanked Albania for its chairmanship and assuming responsibility for security and stability in the OSCE area, adding that Croatia welcomed the expected appointment of the organization’s secretary general as well as the most important heads: representative on freedom of the media (RFoM), high commissioner on national minorities (HCNM) and head of the Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR), who face challenging tasks ahead.
Metelko-Zgombić stressed that prolonged conflicts represented a threat to the security and stability of the OSCE area, expressing concern over the situation in Ukraine. She underscored support for the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission and reflected on the situation in Nagorno-Karabah as well as on the conflicts in Georgia and Moldova.
In addition, the state secretary stressed that the human dimension of the OSCE was under considerable pressure, underlining the importance of respecting the principles and obligations of the OSCE, including those assumed through the Moscow Mechanism. On the occasion of the 25th anniversary of the Dayton Agreement, Metelko-Zgombić highlighted the need to ensure equality of all three constituent nations in Bosnia and Herzegovina as well as the importance of amendments to the Election Act.
The Ministerial Council meeting marked the end of Albania’s OSCE chairmanship. Sweden will take the helm of the organization in 2021.