Slovakia to Preside Over OSCE in 2019

Slovakia to Preside Over OSCE in 2019

Hamburg, December 9 (TASR) – Fifty-seven member states of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) on Friday decided that Slovakia will preside over the body in 2019, Slovak Foreign and European Affairs Ministry spokesman Peter Stano told TASR later in the day.

Slovakia’s bid was approved by foreign affairs ministers of the organisation at the 23rd Ministerial Council in Hamburg.

Slovak Foreign Affairs Minister Miroslav Lajcak spoke about Slovakia’s interest in presiding over the OSCE in his speech in Hamburg on Thursday. The presidency is currently held by Germany, with Austria and Italy set to follow in 2017 and 2018, respectively. The given country’s foreign affairs minister always serves as OSCE’s chairman-in-office.

Lajcak called for the implementation of policies that ensure dignity for people as well as politics that are transparent and not hidden or furtive.

The minister emphasised the good service that Slovakia has performed for the organisation’s benefit and stressed Slovakia’s devotion to peace and stability.