Vienna, 1 September 2022 (MIA) – The world is again facing the biggest challenge and OSCE is in the eye of the storm of the current aggression of one participating state over another. The aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine is unjustified and wrong, a flagrant violation of the UN Charter, fundamental premises of international law and values of humanity. This war undermines the foundations of OSCE, which vision as a center of intercontinental security cooperation is under a serious test. As chair-country of the organization in 2023, the conflict in Ukraine and mitigating of the crisis’ far-reaching consequences will be our top priority, said Foreign Minister Bujar Osmani in presenting North Macedonia’s priorities within its OSCE Chairmanship in 2023 before the organization’s Permanent Council in Vienna on Thursday. “The two critical generators – dialogue and consensual decisions – which objective is peaceful cooperation and sustainability, are on the sidelines. This paralyzes the funds of our organizations and their processes, while adding to the uncertainty and discomfort across the OSCE area and beyond,” said FM Osmani. He added that OSCE and its participating states have invested years in building trust, institutions and mechanisms, insisting on dialogue, tedious at times, but nevertheless a necessary tool to overcome disputes. However, trust and cooperation were among the first victims of this aggression. “For more than six months, force came before diplomacy. The ghosts of history have taken over the multilateral stage, dominating global agendas, while at the same time burdening the work of the international organizations, including OSCE. Amid this complex environment, North Macedonia is set to take over the 2023 Chairmanship,” said Osmani. The current state of play, the FM said, is dark, and what comes next is a riddle, whereas the question how to lead the organization with the 2023 budget projections while the 2022 budget is still in the air is one of the many challenges ahead. “The chairmanship predisposes leadership and we will make sure that all avenues are explored that lead to consensus. Nevertheless, solutions and progress depend on all of us. The only way forward is to rely on effective multilateralism led by solutions, based on the fundamental principles embedded in the heart of our organization. We will focus on our goal of making a difference in the field, implementing our tasks and bringing back stability through reinstatement of dialogue,” said Osmani. He added that Ukraine would remain the chairmanship’s high priority. “However, we should not forget about tensions in other regions of the OSCE area that are a cause for great concern. It is important to rely on the existing formats, ensuring support for our presence on the ground. The organization should remain engaged across the regions in the search for peace,” noted Osmani. The FM also highlighted energy security, food and water security as topics that impose themselves on the OSCE agenda. “If we fail to discuss such or similar challenges, there is a risk of them becoming perpetual, additional sources of conflict,” underlined Osmani. The framework priorities arise from the concept of OSCE’s general security, referring to themes related to the traditional set of issues within the OSCE agenda: frozen conflicts, their prevention, management and transformation, topics concerning economy and environment, digitization, climate change and those arising from the OSCE human dimension, with the goal of promoting human rights and freedoms, good governance, gender equality and youth policies. “We will be decisive and vigilant but also realistic, relying on our experience in the management of various challenges. Our teams will not save any efforts in meeting the entrusted mandate,” underlined FM Osmani. North Macedonia will take over the OSCE Chairmanship from Poland.