Slovenia Strived to Revive, Reform and Rebalance the OSCE

Ljubljana, 5-6 December

The key foreign affairs event for Slovenia in 2005 is the country's presidency of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE). The one-year presidency was crowned with the organisation's Ministerial Council, which is taking place these days in Ljubljana. The presidency has taken a lot of time and effort, especially burdening Foreign Minister Dimitrij Rupel. Nevertheless, top Slovenian politicians assessed that heading a 55-countries strong organisation increased Slovenia's reputation and recognition among the international community. Meanwhile, the country has also been gearing up for a new project, as it is to head the European Union in the first half of 2008.

Slovenia took over as the president of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) on 1 January 2005. Its primary task was to revive, reform and rebalance the organisation. The new head of OSCE, Foreign Minister Dimitrij Rupel, said that the country's main objective was to overcome differences and address the claims by Russia and other members of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) which have accused the OSCE of double standards.
To prepare the reform proposals Rupel appointed a group of eminent persons, which presented its report on 30 June. When it took over, Slovenia also had to deal with the unresolved issues of who is to succeed OSCE Secretary General Jan Kubis and the adoption of the organisation's budget for 2005. An agreement on the EUR 168.8m budget was reached on 12 May, while on 10 June French diplomat Marc Perrin de Brichambaut was appointed the organisation's general secretary for the next three years.
The first trip of the new chair was to Ukraine, where the OSCE played an important role by observing and mediating during and after the disputed presidential elections. Three months later the OSCE faced another challenge as the opposition toppled the government in Kyrgyzstan. Rupel tackled the issue by sending his personal representative for Central Asia, Alojz Peterle to the country. He later visited Kyrgyzstan himself on 31 March. As the organisation presented its report about the May events in the country when government forces allegedly killed several hundreds of people in Andijan (southern Uzbekistan), Rupel called for an independent international investigation.
During his term Rupel has visited a majority of the 55 countries that participate in the OSCE, with a special emphasis on the countries of Southeastern Europe, the Caucasus and Central Asia. He also maintained regular contacts with other international organisations. The cornerstones of Slovenia's policy at the OSCE were also the issues of migration, integration and human rights education.
Rupel was aided by a government-appointed OSCE team (headed by Boris Frlec), Slovenia's permanent mission at the OSCE (led by Ambassador Janez Lenarcic) and representatives of other ministries, institutions and government services. The government allocated SIT 2.6bn (EUR 11m) to cover expenses in the 2004, 2005 and 2006 budgets, of which SIT 2.1bn (EUR 8.76) was earmarked for 2005.

Slovenia Strived to Revive, Reform and Rebalance the OSCE

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