Newsroom
OSCE Troika held meeting with Algeria, Egypt, Israel, Morocco and Tunisia
VIENNA 14 July 1995
VIENNA, 14 July 1995 - The OSCE Troika (Hungary, Italy and Switzerland) at the ministerial level yesterday held consultations with Foreign Ministers or their representatives of Algeria, Egypt, Israel, Morocco and Tunisia.
The meeting, chaired by OSCE Chairman-in-Office, Hungarian Foreign Minister László Kovács, is an important step in deepening the OSCE's long-standing relationship with these "non-participating" Mediterranean States.
The participants stressed the global character and the indivisibility of security and agreed on the importance of a comprehensive approach to security as well as on the growing significance of non-military aspects of security. In this context, they stressed the interdependence between security in the OSCE and Mediterranean areas and the mutual interest of the OSCE and the Mediterranean States to resolve the crises there.
They exchanged views on the political and security situation in the Mediterranean and in the OSCE areas, including OSCE's efforts in Chechnya and Nagorno-Karabakh.
They also discussed the deteriorating situation in the Republic of Bosnia-Herzegovina and condemned the Bosnian Serb aggression on the safe haven of Srebrenica and the ethnic cleansing thereof, in flagrant defiance of the international community and the United Nations Security Council resolutions, and in violation of the principles of human rights. They demanded an immediate halt to these actions which endanger the whole region and jeopardize all international efforts to solve the conflict. They expressed their full support for these efforts.
Participants submitted reports to the meeting on the Middle East peace process which they and the Troika consider encouraging and which highlighted that achievements already made should facilitate the early conclusion of a just, durable and comprehensive peace in the region. These reports reaffirmed that every effort should be made towards the realization of this objective, thus allowing the peoples of the Middle East to live in peace, stability, mutual security and economic prosperity through greater co-operation.
The Participants exchanged views on the activities of the Mediterranean Forum and other initiatives in the field of co-operation and security, including efforts to free the Middle East from the threat of weapons of mass destruction and the threat of war and terror.
They also dealt with the question of co-operation between the OSCE and the Mediterranean States, as well as with initiatives to continue to address issues of common interest. It was proposed that the OSCE/Mediterranean States Contact Group in Vienna discuss further steps towards developing a co-operation programme.
The Mediterranean States suggested that the OSCE Chairman-in-Office submit proposals to the upcoming OSCE Ministerial Council in Budapest on the enhancement of the relationship and status of these States with the OSCE and the extension of its scope to Jordan and Mauritania.
The Mediterranean States expressed their interest in OSCE's experience and its rules, principles as well as structures and institutions to benefit from them in developing their future co-operation. The Troika invited high-level officials from these States for an information visit to the OSCE in Vienna.
The participants exchanged views on the OSCE's and the Mediterranean States' preparations for a seminar on "The OSCE Experience in the Field of Confidence-Building" to be held in Cairo from 26 to 28 September 1995.
Following is a list of those who participated in the meeting:
OSCE Troika: Mr. László Kovács, Hungary (Foreign Minister)Mr. Walter Gardini, Italy (Deputy Foreign Minister)Mr. Jakob Kellenberger, Switzerland (State Secretary)
OSCE Secretary General:Dr. Wilhelm Höynck
Mediterranean States:Mr. Amre Moussa, Egypt (Foreign Minister)Mr. Shimon Peres, Israel (Foreign Minister)Mr. Habib Ben Yahia, Tunisia (Foreign Minister)Mr. Halim Benattallah, Algeria (Ambassador)Mr. Abderrahim Benmoussa, Morocco (Ambassador)
The meeting, chaired by OSCE Chairman-in-Office, Hungarian Foreign Minister László Kovács, is an important step in deepening the OSCE's long-standing relationship with these "non-participating" Mediterranean States.
The participants stressed the global character and the indivisibility of security and agreed on the importance of a comprehensive approach to security as well as on the growing significance of non-military aspects of security. In this context, they stressed the interdependence between security in the OSCE and Mediterranean areas and the mutual interest of the OSCE and the Mediterranean States to resolve the crises there.
They exchanged views on the political and security situation in the Mediterranean and in the OSCE areas, including OSCE's efforts in Chechnya and Nagorno-Karabakh.
They also discussed the deteriorating situation in the Republic of Bosnia-Herzegovina and condemned the Bosnian Serb aggression on the safe haven of Srebrenica and the ethnic cleansing thereof, in flagrant defiance of the international community and the United Nations Security Council resolutions, and in violation of the principles of human rights. They demanded an immediate halt to these actions which endanger the whole region and jeopardize all international efforts to solve the conflict. They expressed their full support for these efforts.
Participants submitted reports to the meeting on the Middle East peace process which they and the Troika consider encouraging and which highlighted that achievements already made should facilitate the early conclusion of a just, durable and comprehensive peace in the region. These reports reaffirmed that every effort should be made towards the realization of this objective, thus allowing the peoples of the Middle East to live in peace, stability, mutual security and economic prosperity through greater co-operation.
The Participants exchanged views on the activities of the Mediterranean Forum and other initiatives in the field of co-operation and security, including efforts to free the Middle East from the threat of weapons of mass destruction and the threat of war and terror.
They also dealt with the question of co-operation between the OSCE and the Mediterranean States, as well as with initiatives to continue to address issues of common interest. It was proposed that the OSCE/Mediterranean States Contact Group in Vienna discuss further steps towards developing a co-operation programme.
The Mediterranean States suggested that the OSCE Chairman-in-Office submit proposals to the upcoming OSCE Ministerial Council in Budapest on the enhancement of the relationship and status of these States with the OSCE and the extension of its scope to Jordan and Mauritania.
The Mediterranean States expressed their interest in OSCE's experience and its rules, principles as well as structures and institutions to benefit from them in developing their future co-operation. The Troika invited high-level officials from these States for an information visit to the OSCE in Vienna.
The participants exchanged views on the OSCE's and the Mediterranean States' preparations for a seminar on "The OSCE Experience in the Field of Confidence-Building" to be held in Cairo from 26 to 28 September 1995.
Following is a list of those who participated in the meeting:
OSCE Troika: Mr. László Kovács, Hungary (Foreign Minister)Mr. Walter Gardini, Italy (Deputy Foreign Minister)Mr. Jakob Kellenberger, Switzerland (State Secretary)
OSCE Secretary General:Dr. Wilhelm Höynck
Mediterranean States:Mr. Amre Moussa, Egypt (Foreign Minister)Mr. Shimon Peres, Israel (Foreign Minister)Mr. Habib Ben Yahia, Tunisia (Foreign Minister)Mr. Halim Benattallah, Algeria (Ambassador)Mr. Abderrahim Benmoussa, Morocco (Ambassador)