"Serbia will head OSCE objectively and without bias"

BELGRADE Tomislav Nikolic stated on Monday that Serbia "will have a chance to give a substantial and constructive contribution to the strengthening of the OSCE." The country has demonstrated the willingness to take over the chairmanship over the organization soon, said the president, adding that Serbia would be "objective and unbiased" in this role. "Serbia will head OSCE objectively and without bias" Addressing the ambassadors accredited in the OSCE in the Palace of Serbia, Nikolic expressed the belief that their mandate in Serbia so far confirmed their expectations in terms of Serbia's willingness to take over OSCE chairmanship soon. "In all regional initiatives it headed so far, Serbia justified the trust invested in it by its partners," Nikolic said and added that he is certain that the arranged and granted consecutive chairmanship over OSCE by Switzerland, in 2014, and Serbia, in 2015, would serve as an example to other member countries as to how a joint vision and plans can lead to successful cooperation. According to him, through the agreement between Serbia and Switzerland, a continuity of chairmanship based on a coordinated approach in the preparation and implementation of activities will be established for the first time in OSCE history. Nikolic said that it is especially important that the two countries' prepared the joint plan in open bilateral consultation with other partners. "Serbia will have a chance to give a substantial and constructive contribution to OSCE strengthening, especially as 2015 will mark the 40th anniversary of the adoption of the Helsinki Final Act as the one of the most important OSCE documents," Nikolic said. Serbia's chairmanship will offer a chance for the country to exert influence, through a creative and innovative approach, on long-term strategic resolution of issues of essential importance for the current and future OSCE actions and affirmation of the organisation's original principles, Nikolic said. "Together with Switzerland and Ukraine as the current OSCE chair, Serbia will try to work intensively on the drafting of the Helsinki +40 road map which should result in the adoption of the new OSCE strategic vision, due in 2015 as the year of Serbia's chairmanship," Nikolic said and extended assurances that Serbia will head the organisation objectively and without bias, and that it would take into consideration the stands of all its member countries. Addressing the ambassadors, he expressed the hope that they would be able to learn more about the tangible results of the OSCE work in Serbia during their visit to Pristina and Bujanovac, and noted that Serbia counts on OSCE as a partner in the implementation of the missions active in the territory, the OSCE Mission in Serbia and the OSCE Mission in Kosovo. "We attach major importance to the missions' projects within the programme of democratisation of the rule of law and human rights especially in Kosovo-Metohija, as well as the media democratisation and assistance in the police activities, and we will be a reliable partner as we have been so far," the president said. The OSCE ambassadors also had talks with Assistant Foreign Minister for Multilateral Cooperation of Serbia Roksanda Nincic and Serbian Parliament Speaker Nebojsa Stefanovic. (Tanjug) Tanjug

"Serbia will head OSCE objectively and without bias"

Addressing the ambassadors accredited in the OSCE in the Palace of Serbia, Nikolić expressed the belief that their mandate in Serbia so far confirmed their expectations in terms of Serbia's willingness to take over OSCE chairmanship soon.

"In all regional initiatives it headed so far, Serbia justified the trust invested in it by its partners," Nikolić said and added that he is certain that the arranged and granted consecutive chairmanship over OSCE by Switzerland, in 2014, and Serbia, in 2015, would serve as an example to other member countries as to how a joint vision and plans can lead to successful cooperation.

According to him, through the agreement between Serbia and Switzerland, a continuity of chairmanship based on a coordinated approach in the preparation and implementation of activities will be established for the first time in OSCE history.

Nikolić said that it is especially important that the two countries' prepared the joint plan in open bilateral consultation with other partners.

"Serbia will have a chance to give a substantial and constructive contribution to OSCE strengthening, especially as 2015 will mark the 40th anniversary of the adoption of the Helsinki Final Act as the one of the most important OSCE documents," Nikolić said.

Serbia's chairmanship will offer a chance for the country to exert influence, through a creative and innovative approach, on long-term strategic resolution of issues of essential importance for the current and future OSCE actions and affirmation of the organisation's original principles, Nikolić said.

"Together with Switzerland and Ukraine as the current OSCE chair, Serbia will try to work intensively on the drafting of the Helsinki +40 road map which should result in the adoption of the new OSCE strategic vision, due in 2015 as the year of Serbia's chairmanship," Nikolić said and extended assurances that Serbia will head the organisation objectively and without bias, and that it would take into consideration the stands of all its member countries.

Addressing the ambassadors, he expressed the hope that they would be able to learn more about the tangible results of the OSCE work in Serbia during their visit to Pristina and Bujanovac, and noted that Serbia counts on OSCE as a partner in the implementation of the missions active in the territory, the OSCE Mission in Serbia and the OSCE Mission in Kosovo.

"We attach major importance to the missions' projects within the programme of democratisation of the rule of law and human rights especially in Kosovo-Metohija, as well as the media democratisation and assistance in the police activities, and we will be a reliable partner as we have been so far," the president said.

The OSCE ambassadors also had talks with Assistant Foreign Minister for Multilateral Cooperation of Serbia Roksanda Ninčić and Serbian Parliament Speaker Nebojša Stefanović.