Skopje, 9 January 2023 (MIA) – Foreign Minister Bujar Osmani, in his capacity as OSCE Chairman-in-Office (CiO), will present the programme of the 2023 Chairpersonship of North Macedonia on Thursday in Vienna.

“Delivering an address to the OSCE Permanent Council, the Minister will refer to the challenges this organization is facing, our vision as plans as the chairpersonship holder in 2023,” the Foreign Ministry said Monday.

Osmani will meet with OSCE Secretary General Helga Maria Schmid. The two are scheduled to hold a news conference after North Macedonia’s formal inauguration as OSCE Chair.

During his Vienna trip, Osmani will also meet with the Austrian Foreign Minister and the President of the Swiss Confederation, Alain Berset. Views on current developments in the OSCE region and the organization’s role in dealing with the consequences caused by Russia’s aggression against Ukraine will be shared at the meetings.

“As part of the working part, the Minister will also meet with the heads of the independent institutions, field missions and other OSCE executive bodies and with special representatives of the chair-in-office,” said the press release.

North Macedonia took over from Poland as Chair of the OSCE on 1 January 2023.

The OSCE Permanent Council is a decision-making body gathering representatives of all 57 participating States of the Organization and 11 Partners for Co-operation. It convenes weekly in Vienna to discuss developments in the OSCE area and to make decisions.