The Munich Security Conference, one of the most important events in the transatlantic security calendar, is this year dominated by the developments in eastern Ukraine in recent months. Various events during the security conference will discuss the situation in the crisis area and questions about the consequences of the conflict in Ukraine for European security, how security and confidence in Europe can be restored through common efforts, and the role the OSCE might play in this process. The Panel of Eminent Persons will meet for the first time in this context on 8 February 2015, the last day of the conference. This panel of specialists from all over the OSCE area will formulate recommendations on how to rebuild confidence and restore European security as a common project. Switzerland launched the panel at the OSCE Ministerial Council meeting in December 2014 in Basel.
Federal Councillor Didier Burkhalter also attaches great importance to cooperative security and rebuilding confidence within Europe. At the security conference on 7 February 2015, he will re-emphasise the significance of these questions, which were already major issues during Switzerland's OSCE Chairmanship last year, in a discussion on the OSCE and the instruments at its disposal for the resolution of conflicts, in a panel on the situation in Ukraine and its consequences for European security, and at other events.
Furthermore, special attention must be paid to the OSCE's role and capacity to act in this regard. These aspects will be addressed on Saturday morning in the first meeting of the OSCE Troika attended by Federal Councillor Burkhalter, Serbian Foreign Minister and OSCE Chairperson-in-Office Ivica Dacic and German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier. The OSCE Troika, which is made up of the current OSCE chair (Serbia) and the preceding (Switzerland) and next chairmanship (Germany) is responsible for the steering of the OSCE and through its cooperation ensures continuity and planning security in the work of the OSCE. According to information published by the Munich Security Conference the OSCE will receive this year’s Ewald von Kleist Award, which the conference presents annually in recognition of significant contributions to international peace and conflict resolution.
Further information:
Media release Munich Security Conference
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