Minister Grlić Radman attends 28th OSCE Ministerial Council

Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Gordan Grlić Radman attended on Thursday in Stockholm the 38th meeting of the Ministerial Council of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE). The meeting focused on security threats in the OSCE area, comprehensive concept of security, defending Europe's security order and resolving longstanding conflicts.

Addressing the meeting, Grlić Radman said that OSCE member states still faced numerous security and stability challenges, as well as unresolved conflicts and crises. He called for strengthening the role of OSCE, describing it as a relevant regional organization for dealing with those challenges in a comprehensive manner.

"The OSCE's main tools - measures of building trust and security, field operations and autonomous institutions, protection of human rights, peace and stability - should continue to be developed and modernised as well as financed in a timely and realistic fashion in order to be effective," Grlić Radman said.

The minister expressed concern about the conflict in Ukraine and regret over a decision to expel OSCE's monitoring mission from two Russian checkpoints.

He also called for greater efforts to resolve the conflicts in Georgia and Moldova, underscoring the importance of respecting territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of countries within their internationally recognized borders.

Grlić Radman also reflected on the conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh, the solving of which is the OSCE's key task, as well as on the situation in Belarus. "We commend the OSCE's work in looking for a lasting solution after the ceasefire agreement, and call on Armenia and Azerbaijan to hold a constructive dialogue in order to find a comprehensive solution to the dispute. We are also deeply concerned about the deteriorating political situation in Belarus. The abuse of migrants on the EU border needs to be stopped immediately," he stressed.

As additional challenges requiring efficient multilateral cooperation Grlić Radman highlighted the COVID-19 pandemic, climate change, migration and refugee crisis, as well as the deteriorating status of human rights in many parts of the OSCE area.

The minister also commented on the OSCE's role in Southeast Europe, stressing that Croatia appreciated its efforts and activities as well as commitment to promoting tolerance, non-discrimination, national minority rights, the rule of law and freedom of the press.

"We especially appreciate the role of the OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina in supporting stability, the rule of law, democratic values and institutions. We strongly encourage electoral reform and other efforts to ensure the legitimate, just and non-discriminatory political representation of all three constituent peoples," Grlić Radman underscored.

On the margins of the meeting, the minister met with OSCE High Commissioner for National Minorities Kairat Abdrakhmanov. The two officials discussed the status of the Croatian minority in neighbouring countries, notably Serbia and Montenegro.

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