OSCE SG praises Cyprus’ role

Secretary General of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) Marc Perrin de Brichambaut has said that Cyprus is one of the OSCE founding fathers, which played a highly respected role in the run-up to the Helsinki Final Act in 1975, which Archbishop Makarios III signed on behalf of Cyprus.

In an article ahead of his arrival today in Cyprus, Brichambaut said Cyprus has been active at every juncture of the OSCE’s evolution, during the Cold War, within its wake and at the start of the 21st century.

“A sign of deep engagement is Cyprus’ work in political-military cooperation” he noted, adding that “as current Chair of the OSCE’s key Forum for Security Cooperation, Cyprus has set an ambitious agenda for leading the OSCE on the politico-military aspects of fostering security across 56 states”.

This agenda, he said, includes a focus on illicit trafficking of small arms and light weapons by air as well as addressing the dangers emanating from surplus stockpiles of conventional munitions.

Having an organization like the OSCE, Brichambaut said, based on the permanent debate and elaboration of a set of basic values in such a complex and fluid world is vital for building a Europe that is whole and free.

“As always, Cyprus has a strong role to play”, he concluded.