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The Government of the Republic of Serbia

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Recognition to Serbia for constructive chairmanship of OSCE

Belgrade, 1 December 2015

First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Ivica Dacic, who is also OSCE Chairman-in-Office, said this evening that everything is ready for the OSCE Ministerial Council and that the meeting with Secretary General of the OSCE Lamberto Zannier officially marked the start of the several day conference hosted by Belgrade.

Author: Tanjug

Speaking at a joint press conference with Zannier in Kombank arena, Dacic said that this is great recognition for Serbia, which was the Chair of the OSCE in the jubilee year, when the OSCE is celebrating 40 years of existence.

The former Yugoslavia was among the founders of the OSCE and Serbia had a great obligation to present itself in the best light as the OSCE chair, he recalled.

I think that Serbia has had a balanced approach to the various conflicts in the territory covered by the OSCE, from Vladivostok to Vancouver, said Dacic.

He pointed out that during the last year he had excellent cooperation with Secretary General Zannier and the OSCE Secretariat.

All activities related to the Ministerial Council today began already. A number of delegates have already arrived and the working bodies are holding meetings, preparatory consultations are underway regarding the adoption of the documents, Dacic explained and reminded that the OSCE has 57 member states and 11 Mediterranean countries and Asian partnerships.

The First Deputy Prime Minister added that it is a great pleasure that 1,700 people and more than 500 journalists from over 120 media outlets are accredited for the event.

According to Dacic, the Ministerial Council will be attended by 44 foreign ministers of the OSCE member states, as well as EU High Representative for Foreign and Security Policy Federica Mogherini.

Dacic said that the meeting will be attended by foreign ministers of the two largest and most influential countries in the world, the Russian Federation and the United States – Sergei Lavrov and John Kerry.

This will be an opportunity for making important political decisions, as well as for bilateral meetings that will take place in Kobank arena, said Dacic, adding that hundreds of bilateral talks will be held.

He stressed that political decisions in the OSCE are made by consensus.

Author: Tanjug

He also said that he does not know whether there would be a meeting of foreign ministers of the Russian Federation and Turkey.

This week Belgrade will be the diplomatic capital of the world, the First Deputy Prime Minister said.

For our country it is a great honour to organise this event because this is the largest gathering since the time of the conference of the Non-Aligned Movement in 1989 in Belgrade, Dacic said, adding that this is also a great organisational challenge.

Secretary General of the OSCE Lamberto Zannier said today that the ministerial summit in Belgrade will be positive culmination of a very good presidency of Serbia in difficult circumstances.

Zannier said that Serbia was a strong leader and added that this is one of the most visited ministerial meetings of the OSCE and a recognition of the work of Serbian presidency.