Former FM Named Head of OSCE Task Force
A former Slovenian foreign minister has been appointed by the government to head a special task force that will oversee Slovenia's presidency of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) in 2005.
Boris Frlec, who served as foreign minister between September 1997 and January 2001, will head the team that will steer Slovenia in its role as president of the 55-member global organisation.
The OSCE presidency has been labelled by the government as the number one foreign policy priority of 2005 and Frlec's appointment bolsters the team that will work to ensure the presidency goes smoothly.
The task force, which has been headed by Aleksander Gerzina until now, previously prepared the priorities of the country's OSCE presidency.
Frlec's naming is the first in a number of new appointments aimed at bolstering the team as Slovenia assumes the extensive duties that come with the OSCE presidency, Foreign Minister Dimitrij Rupel told the press after Thursday's government session.
The OSCE task force is part of the Foreign Ministry and is directly answerable to the minister. It will oversee the presidency with the help of ministries and other government bodies, and Slovenia's mission to the OSCE.
Rupel reiterated that OSCE reform will be the top priority of the presidency, with the goal being to streamline operations.
According to Rupel, a team of reputable officials from the US, Russia, the EU and Asia is expected to be put together to work on the reform project.
Slovenia's hope is that it will be able to help the organisation get over the crisis it is currently in, Rupel added.
The foreign minister also stressed Slovenia intends to promote a balance between all three facets of OSCE operations, the political-military, environmental and the one related to human security.
The government also adopted at the weekly session a timetable for the OSCE-related activities in the first half of 2005.
In January, Slovenia will present its agenda at the OSCE permanent council in Vienna and at the NATO headquarters in Brussels. Visits to Russia, Moldova and Central Asia are to follow.
In February, the OSCE troika is due to meet EU officials. The organisation is also scheduled to hold its winter parliamentary assembly.
In March and April, visits to Southern Caucasus, the US, Ukraine, and South Korea are scheduled, while the OSCE is also due to present its activities to the UN Permanent Council.
In July, the OSCE will celebrate its 3Oth anniversary.
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