Foreign Minister George W. Vella, will be participating in the 21st OSCE Ministerial Council Meeting scheduled to be held in Basel, Switzerland, on 4-5 December 2014, where he is expected to reaffirm Malta's commitment to the OSCE, while reiterating the importance of enhancing security and stability within the organization, particularly in relation to the Mediterranean region and in view of the current crisis in Ukraine.
The meeting will focus on the achievements of the Swiss Chairmanship over the past year, and will seek consensus at the highest political level among the representatives of the 57 participating States, on decisions of particular concern within the areas of the organization's work. The crisis in Ukraine will feature predominantly during the Ministerial Council meeting as representatives will attempt every possible scenario for a way forward in terms of a peaceful resolution to this conflict.
The Ministerial Council meeting will also address the crisis in European security as well as the fight against Terrorism. Another important issue for the organization will be a focus on its work since its inception under the so-called Helsinki+40 process. This focus will reassess the organization's role for the future and reaffirm the commitment to peace-building and dialogue as a key aspect of the OSCE's work. The Swiss Chairmanship has proposed and intends to establish a Panel of Eminent Persons to provide advice on how to reconsolidate European security as a common project.The Minister will be accompanied by the Permanent Representative of Malta to the OSCE, Ambassador Keith Azzopardi, as well as Ministry officials.