Our country appreciates the important contribution of OSCE in combating transnational threats
06 December 2013 News
Minister of Foreign Affairs Kristian Vigenin participated in the 20th Ministerial Council of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), held on 5-6 December 2013 in Kyiv under the Ukrainian Chairmanship.
In his statement at the OSCE annual forum, Minister Vigenin welcomed the adoption of the Decision on the "Helsinki + 40" process which confirms the vision of building a security community stretching from Vancouver to Vladivostok and further strengthening the cooperation within the OSCE. In the context of the Syrian conflict and the growing refugee pressure on our region, the issues related to the fight against terrorism are increasingly important. In this regard, the Bulgarian Foreign Minister emphasized that the country appreciates the important contribution of OSCE in combating transnational threats such as terrorism, organized crime, drug trafficking, reinforcing confidence in cyberspace and others. He also expressed satisfaction with the adopted documents pertaining to the three dimensions of security.
As regards human rights and the human dimension of security, he pointed out that at the end of the Decade of Roma Inclusion, the commitments of the participating countries in the Roma integration initiative are reaffirmed, with an emphasis on women and youth. The decisions on the freedom of religion and belief, freedom of the media and security of the journalists, as well as the freedom of movement are providing new political impetus to the implementation of the commitments in these areas.
Minister Vigenin emphasized the key role of the OSCE field operations in the search for an adequate solution to the frozen conflicts (Nagorno - Karabakh, Abkhazia - Transnistria and South Ossetia). He noted that Bulgaria considers a priority the work of the OSCE in the field of energy security and the impact of the energy sector on the environment, including promotion of the usage of renewable energy sources.
As a responsible EU member state, we express our support for the preservation of the autonomy of the independent OSCE institutions and their role in holding democratic elections and protecting national minorities.
During the forum, Minister Vigenin shared the expressed EU position and message to the forum’s host country in favor of the OSCE fundamental principles such as defense of the right of peaceful protests and against the use of force by either side. The belief that the door of the EU must remain open to Ukraine until the country finally decides whether to sign the proposed by the EU Association Agreement was reaffirmed.