“Italy is honoured to assume the OSCE chairmanship. We strongly believe in this Organisation and in its mission to promote peace, security and stability: a mission which is even more significant in the current European and international scenario where the threats that we are facing seriously endanger the existing balances”. With these words the Italian Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Angelino Alfano, presented today his mission to Vienna, where he illustrated to the OSCE Permanent Council the priorities of the upcoming Italian chairmanship, which will begin on 1 January 2018.
At the Hofburg Imperial Palace, Minister Alfano explained to the permanent representatives of the 57 Member States the commitment of the upcoming Italian chairmanship. Particular attention will be paid to the Ukrainian crisis and the other “protracted conflicts” (Nagorno-Karabakh, Georgia and Transnistria), to the challenges and opportunities coming from the South, to the Mediterranean issues and to strengthening the response to the migrant emergency. The Italian commitment to the OSCE comprehensive approach to security, that encompasses politico-military, economic and environmental, and human aspects, was also stressed.
On the margins of the Permanent Council, Alfano will also meet his Austrian colleague, Sebastian Kurz, as well as the new OSCE leaders, whose appointments were confirmed on 18 July 2017: the Secretary-General, Amb. Thomas Greminger; the Director of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights, Ingebjorg Gisladottir; the Representative on Freedom of the Media, Harlem Désir; and the High Commissioner on National Minorities, Amb. Lamberto Zannier, who had been Secretary-General from 2011 to 30 June 2017.
