Skopje, 12 January 2023 (MIA) – North Macedonia, our teams in Skopje and Vienna, will be fully committed to the mission. With sincere dedication and feeling of responsibility, we’re honored and proud to be at the helm of OSCE in 2023 to safeguard our values and obligations. OSCE’s values are now more important than ever, said Foreign Minister Bujar Osmani speaking at a news conference in Vienna in his capacity as OSCE chairman-in-office alongside OSCE Secretary General Helga Maria Schmid.

“The biggest challenge in implementing our agenda is in the context of the difficult circumstances, but the unity over the OSCE principles and commitments is the source of hope and encouragement. The Russian military aggression against Ukraine, which destroys the very foundation and commitment of the Organization, strengthens this unity. Today, it seems that our values are important now more than ever. Current challenges are no reason for defeatism, but for encouragement to enhance our efforts and engagement,” said Osmani.

Ukraine will remain a top priority, he stated, and we must put other conflicts in the OSCE region high on the agenda, because they are also the source of tensions and human suffering.

“OSCE remains important now more than ever. We’re witnesses of its potentials in the past. We need to create conditions on the ground in order to fully increase the organization’s potential. It has been proven that OSCE can increase trust and provide predictability. Today, this is of vital importance. We have to act here and now for the good of the people. People are first on the line to be affected by geopolitical turmoil. Those exposed directly to the military conflict suffer the most, they feel insecurity the most,” stated Osmani.

Common people, according to him, have had enough from the politics of power and feel tired from uncertainty.

“They should release the fear of war and have peace restored. Our focus here, in Hofburg, are the people. They should be at the center of our attention. I want to say this clearly – we work for them. That is why the driving force of the chairpersonship-in-office is ‘It’s About People’,” Osmani said urging words to be turned into actions and people to take responsibility for their actions.

The people in the OSCE region expect and deserve responsible action, the Minister stressed.

“OSCE offers a platform for dialogue. Dialogue is something that is very close to our understanding of building bridges and settling differences. Dialogue has to be important and integrity-based. For it to happen, we have to again commit to our values,” Osmani stated.

Echoing the same sentiment with Osmani that OSCE’s work is about the people, Secretary General Schmid voiced hopes that OSCE will respond to the challenges of today. She vowed to fully support the Macedonian OSCE chairpersonship-in-office as well as the other members in the coming months.