H.E. Kristin Forsgren Bengtsson, Ambassador of Sweden to North Macedonia presented today Sweden’s programme and priorities for the OSCE, as they were presented by the current Chairperson-in-Office and Swedish Foreign Minister Ann Linde in Vienna on January 14th.
On January 1st, Sweden took over as OSCE Chair succeeding Albania. Sweden will be guided by several priorities in its Chairpersonship throughout the year, including defending the European security order, addressing protracted conflicts, and enhancing democracy and gender equality.
H.E. Kristin Forsgren Bengtsson, Ambassador of Sweden to North Macedonia presented today the work programme and priorities for the OSCE in 2021 to the foreign missions and international organisations in North Macedonia.
“As Chair, Sweden will focus on the common principles and joint commitments, namely the Helsinki Final Act and the Charter of Paris For a New Europe which constitute the foundation of the European security order. They contain the elements needed to resolve conflicts and avoid future crises. Upholding these commitments is shared responsibility and should be in the interests of all OSCE participating States,” stated ambassador Forsgren Bengtsson.
The Head of the OSCE Mission to Skopje, Ambassador Clemens Koja stated that the Mission's work in support of North Macedonia's reform process, in priority areas such as the rule of law, fostering social cohesion, fighting organized crime, combating corruption, media freedom and gender equality, is fully in line with the priorities of the Swedish Chair.
More about Sweden’s programme and priorities as 2021 OSCE Chair can be found here:
