VIENNA, 6 September 2017 – Serbia will strive to strengthen the OSCE’s focus on political-military security through negotiations and consultations on military security and stability in the OSCE area, said the country’s First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs Ivica Dačić as he opened the first session of the Forum for Security Co-operation (FSC) under Serbia’s Chairmanship today in Vienna.

Dačić noted that the overall security situation in Europe remains fragile as the region is facing multiple challenges including increased radicalization and terrorism, large movements of migrants and refugees, misuse of information and communications technologies and trafficking in drugs, arms and human being.

“While the OSCE is still searching for the best response to these challenges, it is clear that they can be successfully tackled only through joint efforts of the participating States,” Foreign Minister Dačić said.

Referring to the Structured Dialogue, which was launched to foster a greater understanding on the current and future challenges in the OSCE area that could serve as a common solid basis for a way forward, he expressed hope that “participating States will embrace it as a method of de-escalation of tensions”. In this regard he referred to the upcoming special joint session of FSC and the Permanent Council, which will focus on the Structured Dialogue.

Dačić said that during its FSC Chairmanship Serbia will continue efforts to increase the representation of women in the armed forces, with a particular focus on the role of the defense sector in the implementation of the 1325 United Nations Security Council Resolution on Women, Peace and Security.

Other essential areas for the debate include conventional arms control and confidence and security building measures; regional efforts in combating the illicit trade of small arms and light weapons; security forces’ support to national authorities with respect to the migration crisis and the role of parliaments in the democratic control of the armed and security forces. An OSCE meeting will be also organized to review the implementation of the OSCE Assistance projects in the field of stockpiles of conventional ammunition and small arms and light weapons.

Serbia is chairing the OSCE Forum for Security Cooperation until the end of the year.