PRESS RELEASE

BELGRADE, 9 February, 2023 — During a visit to North Macedonia, Kosovo, and Serbia, the Ambassadors of France, Germany, Italy, the United Kingdom, and the United States to the OSCE gained a first-hand impression of the current political situation in three important countries of the Western Balkans. At the end of their five- day journey, which concluded with high-level meetings in Belgrade with President Vučić, Prime Minister Brnabić, Foreign Minister Dačić and with representatives of civil society, they reaffirmed the importance of the countries’ commitment to shared OSCE principles and values, the need to continue with reforms to deepen democratic commitments and rule of law, as well as the region’s further integration into Euro-Atlantic institutions. They welcomed the Western Balkans partners' reaffirmed commitment to inclusive regional cooperation and strengthening good neighborly relations. In their high level political talks in Belgrade today they also touched upon pressing issues such as a unified stance against Russia´s war of aggression against Ukraine as well as the importance and urgency of normalizing the relations between Belgrade and Pristina on the basis of the recent European proposal, which their five countries all strongly support. Furthermore, they agreed with their interlocutors on the continuing importance of the OSCE´s support, in particular through its Mission in Serbia, to the ongoing reform process in the fields of justice, police, and media freedom. The ambassadors underscored the importance of issues related to national minorities, integration, and non-discrimination and learned more about the role played by the OSCE Mission’s field outlet in Bujanovac, which they visited on 8 February.

The leadership of the OSCE Mission to Serbia briefed the group on the Mission’s ongoing activities and projects in partnership with the government and people of Serbia. The ambassadors met with a wide range of civil society representatives to discuss the impact of the OSCE’s activities on their work and the current challenges and opportunities they face.

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