Turkish FM Hakan Fidan attends OSCE ministerial council in Malta
Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan attends the 31st Ministerial Council meeting of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), held under Malta's presidency at the exhibition center in Ta'Qali near Valletta, Malta on December 5, 2024. (AA Photo)
Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan participated in the 31st Ministerial Council of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) in Valletta, Malta, on Thursday, Dec. 5.
The meeting, scheduled for Dec. 5–6, brings together representatives from 40 of the OSCE’s 57 member states at the ministerial level.
Additionally, cooperation partners from Asia and the Mediterranean regions are also expected to attend.
Key focus areas at ministerial council
The council will focus on evaluating the current security landscape across the Euro-Atlantic and Eurasian regions, addressing ongoing challenges, and reviewing OSCE operations.
Key topics include appointing individuals to four senior positions within the organization, including the role of secretary-general.
A major point of discussion will be Finland’s upcoming chairmanship of the OSCE in 2025, which coincides with the 50th anniversary of the Helsinki Final Act, the OSCE’s founding document.
Fidan’s remarks on OSCE’s role
Minister Fidan is scheduled to deliver remarks during the first general session on Thursday. In his address, he is expected to highlight the OSCE’s crucial role as the most comprehensive platform for security and cooperation in Europe, emphasizing its central place within the European security framework.
Fidan is also likely to reaffirm Türkiye’s strong support for the OSCE’s effectiveness and inclusivity.
He will stress Türkiye’s commitment to Ukraine’s territorial integrity and sovereignty, reflecting the country’s position on the ongoing conflict.
The Foreign Minister is expected to underscore the importance of diplomacy and dialogue in achieving a just and lasting peace in Ukraine.
He is also likely to emphasize the inseparable link between the security of the OSCE region and the stability of neighboring regions, particularly in the Middle East.
Diplomacy, regional stability
In his speech, Fidan will reiterate Türkiye’s stance on the necessity of achieving lasting peace and stability in the Middle East, linking regional security with broader global peace efforts.
This year’s OSCE Ministerial Council serves as a crucial platform for strengthening international cooperation and addressing pressing global security challenges.
