Bern (Switzerland), headed by Federal Councilor and Foreign Minister Didier Burkhalter, assumed the rotating chairmanship of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), the world's largest regional organization, on January 1, 2014, the OSCE's press service has reported.
Ukraine held the OSCE presidency in 2013.
According to the press service, Switzerland wants to make a tangible
contribution to fostering security and stability, improving people’s
lives and strengthening the OSCE’s capacity to act.
“Switzerland will try to facilitate people-to-people contacts and
support civil society projects in the region. ‘Create a Security
Community for the Benefit of Everyone’ is the leitmotif of the Swiss
chairmanship,” Burkhalter said.
He said that Switzerland would also pay particular attention to the
inclusion of civil society in the OSCE’s work and wants to give young
people the right of vote in the organization.
“During our chairmanship, we want to ensure the implementation of the
existing commitments related to human rights, which will be an
important point of our efforts. Facilitating the exchange of best
practices, Switzerland wants to encourage the participating states to
fully implement and respect the commitments in such areas as combating
torture, ensuring the rights of persons belonging to national
minorities, or promoting democratic elections,” Burkhalter said.
The minister will present Switzerland’s priorities to the OSCE Permanent Council in Vienna on January 16.
