OSCE Chairman-in-Office Rau concludes visit to Montenegro, Albania and North Macedonia

WARSAW/SKOPJE, 17 June 2022 - The OSCE Chairman-in-Office, Poland’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Zbigniew Rau, concluded his visit to Montenegro, Albania and North Macedonia today. The trip focused on co-operation with the OSCE and efforts towards stability, security and strengthening democratic institutions in the South-Eastern Europe region.

In Montenegro, the OSCE Chairman-in-Office held talks on co-operation and security with President Milo Đukanović, Prime Minister Dritan Abazović, and Minister of Foreign Affairs Ranko Krivokapić.

Minister Rau also met with Ambassador Dominique Waag, Head of the OSCE Mission to Montenegro, and Mission staff, whom he thanked for their excellent work, and with representatives of the civil society.

Minister Rau acknowledged the country’s recent reforms, which he perceives as reflecting the OSCE’s underlying principles and values and which make it a stable and constructive partner in the region. He pointed out that Montenegro’s solidarity, adherence to the rule of law and a culture of dialogue is strongly reaffirmed by the position it has taken recently at this difficult time for Europe and the world.

“Close relations and your country’s commitment to the values that have shaped the OSCE are yet again reflected in Montenegro’s unequivocal and principled position on Russian aggression against Ukraine,” stressed Minister Rau speaking to the Montenegrin leadership.

While in Tirana, the OSCE Chairman-in-Office spoke with Albania’s outgoing President Ilir Meta, President-elect Bajram Begaj and Deputy Prime Minister Arben Ahmetaj. He also met with representatives of the OSCE Presence in Albania.

The OSCE Chairman-in-Office confirmed the Organization’s support for the reform package implemented successively in Albania, which covers such fields as judicature, the rule of law, and fight against corruption.

“I am happy to confirm the OSCE’s readiness to extend further assistance to the reforms in important areas. Albania has been doing very well with their implementation. I also welcome the Albanian government’s strong support for the OSCE’s regional project concerning climate change and security in South-Eastern Europe,” said Minister Rau.

Minister Rau congratulated the hosts on the 30th anniversary of their membership of the Organization and on the 25th anniversary of the OSCE Presence in Albania.

During his visit to North Macedonia, Minister Rau met with President Stevo Pendarovski, Prime Minister Dimitar Kovačevski, and Minister of Foreign Affairs Bujar Osmani.

The OSCE Chairman-in-Office had the opportunity to discuss the priorities of the North Macedonia OSCE Chairmanship in 2023 and stressed the political responsibility of the upcoming Chair to protect the Organization and its potential to promote stability and security in Europe.

Minister Rau also held bilateral talks with the UN Under-Secretary  General Rosemary DiCarlo and OSCE Secretary General Helga Schmid, andparticipated in the Prespa Forum Dialogue where he spoke in the opening panel “What after the War in Ukraine?”.

“The Russo-Ukrainian war not only constitutes an “end of an era” for Europe. Its consequences will have immense and long term influence on the security situation in the Euro-Atlantic area and beyond. We have to make sure that there will be no coming back to the previous status quo. I strongly hope that the whole OSCE community will draw necessary conclusions, and take indispensable actions to enhance rules-based order in Europe,” the OSCE Chairman-in-Office stressed.