Ireland to chair the Organisation for Security and Cooperation (OSCE) in 2012

Department of Foreign Affairs                Press Release

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Ireland to chair the Organisation for Security and Cooperation (OSCE) in 2012

On behalf of the Government, the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Micheál Martin T.D has warmly welcomed the confirmation of Ireland’s chairmanship of the OSCE in 2012.  The decision on Ireland’s chairmanship was agreed today at the annual OSCE Ministerial Council in Athens.

Speaking at the conference which is attended by fifty-six participating States including all the members of the EU, the US, Canada and Russia, the Minister said:

“I am delighted that this decision will provide Ireland with an excellent opportunity to once again play a leadership role on the international stage, particularly during these difficult economic times.  As an international organisation, the OSCE is unique in terms of its membership and one of its significant benefits is that it brings countries together from Europe, Central Asia and America.

It will be an honour for Ireland to be in a position to make a tangible contribution to the promotion of European peace and security, drawing particularly on our experience of conflict resolution in the context of the Northern Ireland peace process. 

Ireland looks forward to assuming this responsibility and will work hard to build on the impressive achievements of the OSCE.” 

Note for Editors

The OSCE, which was formally established in 1994, emerged out of the Cold War changes in Europe to become the primary instrument for early warning, conflict prevention, crisis management and post-conflict rehabilitation in Europe, Central Asia and North America.  The OSCE was built on the foundation of the Conference for Security and Cooperation in Europe (CSCE).  This Conference was established by the Helsinki Final Act in 1975.  Comprising fifty-six participating States (including all the members of the EU, the US, Canada and Russia), the OSCE’s approach to security is comprehensive and co-operative.  It deals with a wide range of security issues, including arms control, preventive diplomacy, confidence and security building measures, human rights, election monitoring and economic and environmental security.

The Chair is held by a member state for one calendar year on the basis of consensus. Ireland has never taken the Chair before in the history of the Organisation. The present Chair is Greece. Next year Kazakhstan takes over the position – the first Central Asian state to do so.  Lithuania will have the Chair in 2011.

ENDS+++

Press Section

Department of Foreign Affairs

2 December 2009