Ispis stranice Povratak na prethodnu stranicu PR OFFICE Smanjivanje slova Povećavanje slova

Sarajevo, December 2nd, 2009

Press Release

Minister of Foreign Affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina Sven Alkalaj Addresses the 17th Ministerial Council of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe in Athens

On December 2nd, 2009, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina Sven Alkalaj addressed the 17th Ministerial Council of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) held on December 1st and December 2nd, 2009 in Athens.   

Minister Alkalaj emphasized that the inseparability of the European and Euro-Atlantic security zones and the challenges we face on a daily basis, such as the fight against terrorism, energy security, access to natural resources, etc., only reaffirm the necessity for dialogue. In that sense, the OSCE can be viewed as a key player. „We value the OSCE highly as a forum where our voice can also be heard on processes related to security issues of common interest”, Minister Alkalaj stated.  

The Minister also noted that Bosnia and Herzegovina’s membership in the United Nations Security Council, which begins in 2010, will be marked by our country's various activities, of different directions, aimed at achieving efficient global security.

Minister Alkalaj emphasized that European and Euro-Atlantic integration remain foreign policy priorities for Bosnia and Herzegovina and that the ultimate goal of our efforts to carry out the necessary reforms is our country's full integration into Euro-Atlantic political and security structures, adding that this will contribute to security at the national, regional and global level. In that sense, Minister Alkalaj recalled that we have submitted our NATO Membership Action Plan application and expressed the hope that BiH will continue its rapid progress towards full-fledged NATO membership.  

„We have successfully transformed the wide scope of action offered by the regional organizations of South East Europe into regional possibilities, by establishing strategic economic exchange and connecting people and ideas. We have reached and are now maintaining a level of security in the region, which represents a contribution and a constructive part of European security,“ Minister Alkalaj said.  

He underlined the successful work of the OSCE in Bosnia and Herzegovina as our country's key partner in several important fields such as education, security, capacity building, and democracy as well as the OSCE's significant contribution to strengthening trust and tolerance among different communities.