OSCE Chairperson-in-Office: Conflict settlement in Ukraine should include Crimea

The OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, Prime Minister and Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs of Albania, Edi Rama, said this in his opening address at the 27th OSCE Ministerial Council on December 3, an Ukrinform correspondent reports.

“At the beginning of the year, I stated that the conflict with respect to Ukraine was of utmost priority of our chairmanship. This has not changed and it cannot change. Some progress has been made, but there is still a long way to go towards a comprehensive and peaceful resolution of the conflict, including with respect to the challenges related to Crimea," he said.

The OSCE Chairperson-in-Office stressed that the conflict has been going on for the seventh year already, which is unacceptable, given the OSCE commitments and principles, as well as the Minsk agreements.

Edi Rama pointed out that progress in the settlement is possible if there is political will, full implementation of the Minsk agreements and the agreements reached by the leaders of the "Normandy Four" countries.

"I call for constructive discussions in the Trilateral Contact Group under the mediation of the OSCE. We need to use this format as best as possible," he said.

On Thursday, December 3, the two-day virtual 27th OSCE Ministerial Council began. The Ministerial Council is the central decision-making and governing body of the OSCE. The meeting, held annually, provides the Foreign Ministers of the 57 OSCE participating States an opportunity to review and assess the Organization’s activities and strengthen the dialogue on security issues in the OSCE area.

Due to the restrictions imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic, for the first time, the Ministerial Council is held via video teleconferencing (VTC).

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