Russian aggression to be prime focus of Ukraine's chairmanship of OSCE Forum

29.04.2020 16:23

Ukrinform

During Ukraine's chairmanship of the OSCE Forum for Security Co-operation, special attention will be paid to the ongoing Russian aggression against Ukraine, including militarization in the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov regions, the role of armed forces in supporting the fight of national governments against COVID-19, hybrid threats, the activity of private military companies and many other issues.

"Ukraine will chair the Forum in a difficult period: amidst the ongoing Russian aggression against my country and during the global coronavirus pandemic. This is an era of great change," Foreign Minister of Ukraine Dmytro Kuleba said while delivering his speech at an online session on Wednesday to mark the start of Ukraine's chairmanship of the OSCE Forum for Security Co-operation, an Ukrinform correspondent reports.

According to the minister, Ukraine will continue seeking constructive response options, considering the OSCE an important platform for dialogue. "The unique concept of a comprehensive security approach is particularly important now that we face an unprecedented hybrid threat, constraints, economic crisis, and profound transformations in our daily lives," Kuleba said.

During Ukraine's chairmanship of the OSCE Forum for Security Co-operation, it is planned to dedicate a separate discussion to the complicated security situation in the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov region which is "accompanied by ongoing militarization and obstruction of free international navigation."

"The next priority issue is the global coronavirus pandemic and its impact on the armed forces and the role of the latter in helping the government combat this threat. We need to consider the possible impact of such steps on the implementation of confidence and security measures," the Ukrainian foreign minister noted.

In addition, Ukraine will closely monitor hybrid threats and their possible link to current warfare methods. Another important issue that the Ukrainian chairmanship plans to focus on is the activity of private military companies.

In addition, much attention will be paid to the conduct of sudden military exercises near the borders of the participating states and a number of other issues within the framework of the Forum's mandate, in particular, light weapons and small arms, implementation of the UN Security Council resolution 1540 against the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and the UN Security Council resolution 1325 on women, peace and security.

As reported, Ukraine took over the Chairmanship of the OSCE Forum for Security Cooperation from Turkey on April 20. Ukraine will be the first to chair the Forum online amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.