Rupel Calls on UN Security Council to Utilise OSCE

Washington, 8 March

Foreign Minister Dimitrij Rupel called on the UN Security Council to make better use of the OSCE as he addressed the body on Friday. According to Rupel, the OSCE chairman-in-office, the OSCE is facing difficulties and efforts must be stepped up to preserve it.

Rupel spoke of the problems faced by the OSCE as he addressed the Security Council. He said that, as an answer to the calls for reform, he had appointed a special panel to make recommendations on strengthening the effectiveness of the OSCE. He believes the OSCE is the ideal place to talk about differences of opinion, which is why he has welcomed a debate on increasing the OSCE's efficiency. He also said the OSCE was ready to assume more responsibility. Prior to his address, Rupel met the Security Council Chairman, Ambassador of Brazil Ronaldo Sanderberg. At the session he answered questions of the US, Russian, Romanian and British officials. Later he met UN Secretary General Kofi Annan, with talks focusing on the future of Kosovo.
After Monday's talks with US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice Rupel said his US counterpart had inspired fresh optimism in his views on the OSCE.
The OSCE is an extremely important organisation for both Slovenia and the US, as well as for the whole world, and in our opinion Russia too, Rupel said.
He explained that Rice had pledged steadfast support for the OSCE and urged the Slovenian chairmanship to persist with efforts aimed at finding a compromise on the open issues in the organisation.
Rupel hopes that there would be a breakthrough in the stalemate on financing and other issues in the OSCE in the coming weeks. These issues, he said last evening CET, should not discourage anybody from believing that the OSCE is an important organisation.
He told the press he had asked Rice for assistance in overcoming certain problems between Belgrade and Pristina, as well as help in dealing with the Balkans in general.

Rupel Calls on UN Security Council to Utilise OSCE

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