Skopje, 22 December 2023 (MIA) – We have demonstrated our political and practical capabilities, professionalism and commitment to the entire world, culminating in the organisation of the 30th Ministerial Council. Through the decisions taken, we successfully executed the plan we set at the beginning of the Chairmanship, contributing significantly to the functionality of the OSCE, Foreign Minister Bujar Osmani said, addressing the event marking the end of North Macedonia’s 2023 OSCE Chairmanship.

“Our chairmanship was focused on the people, and we worked with a commitment to the idea that the OSCE can promote and preserve what people value most – their rights, freedom, and dignity,” Osmani noted, Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a press release.

He said that the country will remain unwavering in protecting its values, concurrently reinforcing these principles in areas where they are contested or doubted. According to Osmani, maintaining the principles and commitments is crucial for the preservation of the Organization, which, as he underscored, experienced an unprecedented existential crisis this year.

“I proudly state once again that the ministerial meeting in Skopje brought new energy to our principles, our guiding force that steadfastly propels us forward, despite the attempts by certain actors to undermine it. We share the extraordinary success we achieved with ministries and numerous institutions that were involved and participated in achieving the results of our Chairmanship, particularly in the successful organisation of the ministerial meeting,” Osmani said.

He expressed gratitude to the institutions that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs collaborated with, and which, as noted, provided significant support for the successful OSCE Ministerial Council in Skopje, including the Ministry of Interior, the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Defense, the members of the military forces of North Macedonia, as well as the Service for General and Common Affairs of the Government of North Macedonia.

Interior Minister Oliver Spasovski also addressed the event, emphasizing that the Summit served as a platform to strengthen our country's well-established international credibility.

“The flawless organization of this globally important event, making us successful hosts, allowed us to enhance our visibility on the international stage and reaffirm our commitment to peace, stability, cooperation and development. We approach this responsibility with the utmost seriousness, recognizing that security is a fundamental prerequisite for the success of this international dialogue. Therefore, I would like to extend special gratitude to each of the dedicated police officers who, with their utmost commitment, fulfilled the set goals," Spasovski said at the event organized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to mark the conclusion of North Macedonia’s 2023 OSCE Chairmanship.

Photo: Ministry of Foreign Affairs