The OSCE Ministerial Council meets / Hasani: Russia is a threat to security, Kosovo and Serbia should continue the dialogue

2023-11-30 15:21:00, Aktualitet CNA

The OSCE Ministerial Council meets / Hasani: Russia is a threat to security,

The Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Albania, Igli Hasani, delivered his speech at the OSCE Ministerial Council.

Today, November 30, 2023 in Skopje, North Macedonia Hasani said that the biggest threat to our security today, indeed to our entire security architecture, including this organization, is Russia and its illegal war of aggression against Ukraine.

"I have a very strong connection with the OSCE. An important part of my career is connected with this organization. I can attest to its value and strength, as well as its limitations. I believe that how the OSCE responds to the challenges it faces today will determine its future. But to face the future, we must first recognize the source of the challenge we face today. The biggest threat to our security today, indeed to our entire security architecture, including this organization, is Russia and its illegal war of aggression against Ukraine," Hasani said.

It says that conflicts and other crises, the range of transnational threats, terrorism, organized crime, violent extremism and cybercrime, as well as the negative effects of climate change on security, continue to cause suffering and hardship for many of the 1 billion people who covered by the OSCE umbrella

"This tragic war has had dramatic consequences for the OSCE, in all three dimensions. By abusing our unique cooperation mechanism – consensus – and blocking it on all important decisions, Russia has aimed to weaken and paralyze our organization. We heard the same distorting message a few minutes ago. The same words as in 1956, 1968, 2008, 2014, 2022. Then they send their tanks. Meanwhile, other conflicts and crises, the range of transnational threats, terrorism, organized crime, violent extremism and cybercrime, as well as the negative effects of climate change on security, continue to cause suffering and hardship for many of the 1 billion people it covers the OSCE umbrella. They also cause great damage to human rights and basic freedoms, especially for women and children," he said during his speech.

He also spoke about developments in the Middle East.

"Developments in Afghanistan, or in the Middle East, emphasize again the necessity of the OSCE's enhanced engagement with its Asian and Mediterranean partners for cooperation. All these challenges require a strong organization! In the Western Balkans, in our region as a whole and in many of our individual countries, we know what a positive impact a strong OSCE can have. We also know that a strong OSCE is needed once again today. Because despite the progress of the past decades, the old threats that have plagued the history of our region are raising their heads again. And again, behind these attempts to foment trouble in the Western Balkans we can see the same hand that is trying to weaken the OSCE. The events in Kosovo are clear proof of the attempt to draw attention from the war in Ukraine, inciting the conflict in the Western Balkans," he said.

He also said that Kosovo and Serbia should resolve all disputes through dialogue, of course.

"We are doing our best to counter these threats together with our allies and partners. Albania continues to work hard and proactively for a stable and peaceful Western Balkans. We remain guarantors of the European orientation of our region, security, stability and democracy. But a concerted and dedicated effort by all our friends and partners is needed to neutralize these efforts, which aim to take us back to the times of identity politics and conflicts. Kosovo and Serbia should resolve all disputes through dialogue, of course. There is no alternative but dialogue. But we all have to admit that the best way to make the Western Balkans, and therefore Europe, safer is to recognize Kosovo's independence and give it its rightful place at this table and in every other international forum." , Hasani said.