Skopje, 30 November 2023 (MIA) – Part of what sets the OSCE's work apart is the ability to foster regional approaches to shared challenges, said OSCE Secretary General Helga Maria Schmid addressing the 30th OSCE Ministerial Council in Skopje. 

According to her, this Organization, based on principles and commitments agreed by all participants in Helsinki nearly 50 years ago, is meant to not only address a range of security challenges, but also to hold its participants to account. 

"Part of what sets the OSCE's work apart is our ability to foster regional approaches to shared challenges. Take for example our work in Central Asia. In Stockholm in 2021, I put forward suggestions of how to support our participating States in Central Asia in dealing with the implications of the brutal Taliban takeover against Afghanistan. You tasked me with developing a plan that addresses a broad range of the challenges across the region. So, we developed a program in the Secretariat in cooperation with our field missions. And thanks to several donors, including partners, we are currently implementing EUR 77 million worth of extra-budgetary projects in this context, that ultimately serve us all," Schmid noted. 

She added that this is just one example, but the point is that OSCE is delivering unique value through a regional approach. 

"We need to remain effective, so that we can respond when participating States request support. In Ukraine, while we had to close both of our missions last year, we continue supporting the government and society to address the impact of the war, as well as to support the country's democratic institutions. This is possible due to the wholly extra-budgetary that is being done there with funding from 30 participating States and the European Union, and the dedicated Special Representative on the ground. This supports 20 projects to address issues from the impact of landmines and the environmental effects of the war to trafficking in human beings," said Schmid.

The OSCE Secretary General stressed she is deeply proud of having worked to serve the OSCE principles. 

"I have served under three Chairs - Minister Linde of Sweden, Minister Rau of Poland, and our current Chair, Minister Osmani of North Macedonia. All of them have worked tirelessly to uphold and advance OSCE principles, including in the face of grave violations. I'm deeply proud of having worked to serve these principles as well, as have my colleagues Teresa Ribeiro, Matteo Mecacci and Kairat Abdrakhmanov," Schmid pointed out. 

She said that the OSCE offers solutions that are tailored to local circumstances and addresses challenges that affect every one of the partcipating States.  

Schmid said she was very proud of the work that the OSCE does to engage "those who might be underrepresented - including national minorities, youth, and of course, women".  

"We are not only combating gender-based violence, but also promote women as agents of change, whether in water management or community policing. And through a network I launched last year, we are supporting women peace-builders and mediators from across the OSCE region, as well as Afghanistan. We are helping them to improve their skills and expand their networks, because we need more women at all levels of decision-making," Schmid said. 

She added that there are many more examples she could offer on the work that OSCE does, including on cybersecurity, on connectivity, anti-corruption and so much more.  

In her address, Schmid said that she has consistently sought to improve ways of work in the Secretariat and with the whole of the OSCE, adding that when it comes to resources, we are seeing record amounts of extra-budgetary contributions, that have doubled during her tenure. 

Helga Maria Schmid stressed that the OSCE is an essential part of the security architecture, and the need for unique contributions is greater than it has ever been. 

"I'm proud of the work we do, the results we deliver and the ways in which we make a difference across the OSCE region.This Organization has key instruments needed to support peace and security. This Organization brings all those relevant to security in Eurasia together at one table - including our partners for cooperation," Schmid said, adding that the OSCE has been and remains a quietly powerful force for change, because "it is indeed about people".  

Prime Minister Dimitar Kovachevski, Foreign Minister Bujar Osmani, and President of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly Pia Kauma also addressed the opening of the 30th OSCE Ministerial Council in Skopje. 

North Macedonia is hosting the 30th Ministerial Council of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), with about 1,000 delegates expected to attend, making it the largest political-diplomatic event in the country on record. The Council brings together 76 delegations from 57 OSCE member-states and partners.

Photo: OSCE Print screen