OSCE Chairperson-in-Office Burkhalter presented the OSCE’s contribution to co-operative security response regarding Ukraine during an event at the NATO Summit in Newport, Wales. Burkhalter took part in the event organized by the government of the United Kingdom entitled “Implications of the crisis in and around Ukraine for European security at large” alongside EU High Representative on Foreign Affairs Catherine Ashton and Council of Europe Secretary General Thorbjorn Jagland. Burkhalter outlined the Chairmanship’s view on the situation and the contributions of the OSCE to international efforts at de-escalating the crisis in Ukraine in this session of the Foreign Ministers of NATO.
Following two preparatory meetings this year, one of which was held in Montreux and Valais in May, the OSCE is dedicating this year's Economic and Environmental Forum to the discussion on measures to prevent natural disasters. The forum is taking place in Prague on 10 September 2014.
President Burkhalter will also use his time in Prague as an opportunity to hold bilateral talks with representatives of the Czech government. In addition to bilateral themes, the focus of his meeting with Prime Minister Bohuslav Sobotka and Foreign Minister Lubomir Zaorálek will be on the current situation in Ukraine and measures taken by the OSCE to support the process to find a political solution to the crisis.