Skopje, 13 February 2023 (MIA) – As part of his official visit to Moldova in his role as OSCE Chairperson, Minister of Foreign Affairs Bujar Osmani met Monday with the Special Representative on Gender Issues of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, Liliana Palihovici, with whom he spoke about the promotion of women, peace and security, as one of the priorities of the OSCE Chairpersonship.

The Minister also met with the civil society organizations that have a crucial role in promoting dialogue and confidence-building.

This meeting, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, comes as a result of the key priorities of North Macedonia’s OSCE Chairpersonship, which are the focus on people, improving their lives and human security in the region.

“That’s why it was important for me to meet with civil society organizations during my visit. The situation in Moldova is high on the OSCE agenda and we are determined to continue our support through the mission’s operations and wider program activities,” said Osmani.

The Foreign Minister, according to the MFA, said he had a productive meeting with the civil society organizations from both sides of the river in Chisinau, and that their mutual cooperation is key to the process of ensuring lasting peace and stability in Moldova.

“Precisely this type of a constructive and inclusive approach is necessary in order to build confidence and encourage peace,” said Osmani, stressing the importance of involving civil society organizations in all processes.

Touching upon the strong focus on the people on the ground who are the ultimate beneficiaries of OSCE’s activities, the Foreign Minister noted that North Macedonia will strengthen the Organization's field work, especially considering the fact that Moldova is facing specific challenges, which have been aggravated by the ongoing war against neighboring Ukraine.

“You deserve recognition for the ways in which the Moldovan people provided aid, shelter and support to tens of thousands of refugees fleeing the war against Ukraine,” said Osmani.
He also spoke about the process of resolving the issue with Transnistria, noting OSCE’s crucial rule in resolving this situation.

“We value the importance of the engagement of the thematic work groups in overcoming this dispute. These are exceptionally significant platforms for dialogue, and within the framework of our Chairpersonship we will focus our efforts in supporting all stakeholders to continue this dialogue and find solutions that will benefit the people who live on both sides of the shore,” stressed Osmani.

Chairperson Osmani also stressed the importance of promoting the role of women during the decision-making processes for peace and security, asking for the support of the civil sector in advocating for this message. ad/sk/