Skopje, 4 May 2023 (MIA) — OSCE Chairperson-in-Office and Foreign Minister Bujar Osmani adressed the United Nations Security Council in New York on Thursday urging world leaders to act and immediately re-establish peace in the OSCE region, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in a press release.

The Swiss Presidency of the UN Security Council had invited Osmani to present the priorities of North Macedonia's OSCE Chairpersonship and of OSCE's cooperation with the UN, the release says.

Remarking on the 30th anniversary of the OSCE – UN partnership, especially in conflict prevention and crisis management, Osmani called for synergy toward achieving peace for current and future generations.

"As security challenges continue to evolve, the nature of OSCE's cooperation with the UN also needs to evolve and become more pragmatic and action-oriented," Osmani said.

"Strong partnerships and joint strategies are the only way to tackle increasingly complex security challenges, especially in times of war and economic hardships and crises," he added.

The foreign minister said North Macedonia's OSCE Chairpersonship was focused on people's safety as the top priority.

"As leaders, we have a responsibility to serve the people, to protect them and make sure their voices are heard. The world is facing unprecedented challenges and people are paying the price. It is time to take decisive action. We cannot afford to wait any longer while people continue to suffer," he said.

FM Osmani called on Russia to withdraw its troops from the sovereign territory of Ukraine and end the people's suffering.

In his speech, he also mentioned his visits promoting peace as OSCE Chairperson-in-Office to Ukraine, Moldova and the South Caucasus and announced his upcoming visit to countries of the Western Balkans.

"Our other priorities will largely depend on security developments. Despite all these difficulties, we will continue to promote people's security by supporting sustainable economic growth, fundamental human rights, tolerance and non-discrimination as prerequisites for comprehensive security," Osmani told world leaders and called on the OSCE and the UN to show their full potential in action and not allow their committment and common values to be just empty words.

The cooperation between the OSCE and the UN in the past, according to Osmani, showed that working together produced results.

"Our past experience and lessons learned give us the right directions for the future. I am aware that new challenges may require adapting and updating our approach, but the OSCE partnership with the UN will remain of vital importance," Osmani said.

North Macedonia, he said, could serve as an example of how countries benefitted from both the OSCE and the UN.

"This year we are celebrating three jubilees," Osmani stressed. "As OSCE Chairperson, it is my honor to highlight the 30th anniversary of the OSCE and the UN's cooperation. Also, later this year, North Macedonia will host the 30th OSCE Ministerial Council, and we are marking the 30th anniversary of our country's membership in the UN.

"These three jubilees are symbolic signs of our commitment to multilateral cooperation and a recognition of our gained experience, especially in dispute resolution and issues related to cultural and ethnic identity differences," Osmani said. mr/