Serbia, as a country from the Western Balkans, brings added value as Chairmanship to the work of the OSCE. "Rebuilding trust and confidence in order to create a positive agenda for the future", the motto of Serbia’s Chairmanship, encapsulates the way in which Serbia plans to use its experience in contributing to the Organization, said OSCE Chairperson-in-Office and Serbia’s Foreign Minister Ivica Dačić.
OSCE Chairperson, Serbia’s Foreign Minister Ivica Dacic, speaking at the inaugural Permanent Council meeting of Serbia's OSCE Chairmanship, Vienna, 15 January 2015.
Respect for human rights, tolerance and non-discrimination remains high on our agenda.
Ivica DačićOSCE Chairperson-in-Office, Serbia’s Foreign Minister
“Improving living conditions in the region is a goal we all share,” said Dačić. “We must strengthen mutual respect, trust and understanding. Respect for human rights, tolerance and non-discrimination remains high on our agenda,” he said.
The Western Balkans are at the forefront of Serbia’s 2015 Chairmanship priorities. When Serbia outlined its priorities at the beginning of 2015, Dačić pledged to rebuild trust and confidence in the OSCE region. He also pledged to seize the opportunity given by the 57 participating States to create ‘a positive agenda for the future’ - the motto of the Serbia's Chairmanship.
The OSCE has played an important role in the post-conflict transition processes, supporting a wide range of reforms in the Western Balkans, Dačić said during the recent visits to the OSCE Mission to Serbia, Mission to Montenegro and the Mission to Skopje. Dačić’s message to all was to further that work by “intensifying regional co-operation and furthering the reconciliation process.”
Ownership of regional arms control: Mission accomplished
Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Croatia, and Serbia have already proved they can establish a stable military balance, at the lowest level of armaments, reducing the risk of a new escalation of conflict.
After 18 years, the countries took over full responsibility for regional stability and arms control, essential for building peace and stability in the Western Balkans. The Amendments to the Agreement on Sub-Regional Arms Control document, Article IV Annex 1-B of the Dayton Agreement, was signed by the countries at the OSCE Ministerial Council in Basel in December 2014.
The Dayton Article IV Agreement has been – and remains – highly relevant for stability in the Region and for the entire OSCE area. It serves as a model for other OSCE regions in order to enhance security and stability.
Although every region in the OSCE area is different, Dačić is convinced that sharing the lessons of the Western Balkans more broadly would be beneficial. “Serbia’s own experience demonstrates that progress is possible, even in the face of significant obstacles, by adopting a pragmatic and goal-oriented approach,” he said.
2015 OSCE Chairperson-in-Office visits the Western Balkans
OSCE Chairperson-in-Office and Serbia's Foreign Minister Ivica Dačić visits the OSCE field operations in the Western Balkans region.
OSCE Chairperson Dačić pledges support for reforms as he visits Mission to Skopje, Skopje, 18 February 2015. >> Read more
OSCE Chairperson Dačić commends Government’s reform agenda as he visits Mission to Montenegro, Podgorica, 17 February 2015. >> Read more
Strengthening regional co-operation in Western Balkans one of key 2015 priorities, says OSCE Chairperson Dačić on visit to Mission to Serbia,Belgrade, 29 January 2015. >> Read more
OSCE Chairperson-in-Office Dačić completes two-day visit to OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina, supports the country's commitments to positive reform-oriented agenda, Sarajevo, 30 April 2015. >> Read more
