KYIV. Jan 9 (Interfax) - Ukraine took over chairmanship of the 57-member Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) on January 1, 2013.
During its chairmanship in 2013, Ukraine will seek to make progress on resolving protracted conflicts, strengthening conventional arms control, combating human trafficking, reducing the environmental impact of energy-related activities, and protecting human rights and fundamental freedoms, the OSCE website quotes Ukrainian Foreign Minister and new OSCE Chairperson-in-Office Leonid Kozhara as saying.
The minister highlighted Ukraine role and experience as a co-mediator and guarantor in the Transdniestrian settlement process and welcomed the momentum achieved in these talks over the past year. He also stressed the need to continue to make progress in this and other protracted conflicts in the region.
"We must re-energize negotiations within the existing formats and prevent any escalation in tensions. The resolution of protracted conflicts must remain the highest priority for the OSCE and all participating States," Kozhara said.
Ukraine will also be working to make progress in arms control and confidence-building measures as a way of strengthening security and military stability, he said.
Energy security in terms of the environmental impact of energy-related activities is another of Ukraine's priorities for the year, Kozhara said. "One of the specific issues that merits a distinct place in our political dialogue within the OSCE is energy security, in particular its environmental aspects," he said.
Ukraine's Chairmanship will promote fight against human trafficking and support media freedom, he said.
Kozhara noted that the OSCE could greatly benefit from a constructive contribution of civil society and academia in the achievement of OSCE goals and objectives.
He praised the achievements of the outgoing Irish Chairmanship and pledged to take forward the 'Helsinki +40' process agreed at the Dublin Ministerial meeting last December to develop the Organization's strategic path in the run up to the 40th anniversary of the Helsinki Final Act in 2015.
"Ukraine sees its Chairmanship mission as further promoting the conditions that would lead to change in our mindsets - from confrontational thinking to a co-operative approach," Kozhara said.
The Ukrainian minister will officially present priorities of Ukraine's OSCE Chairmanship at a meeting of the OSCE Permanent Council in Vienna on January 17, 2013.