Joint statement

by NATO Deputy Secretary General Mircea Geoană with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of North Macedonia and Chairperson-in-Office of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe, Bujar Osmani

  • 31 Jan. 2023 -
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  • Last updated: 31 Jan. 2023 10:15

(As delivered)

Dear Minister Osmani, dear Bujar.

Congratulations for the Chairpersonship-in-office of the OSCE. An organisation that has tremendous importance for Euro-Atlantic security and the rule-based international order.

We're living in a time where Russia has shaken this order. The brutal invasion of Ukraine is not only a brutal attack against an independent, democratic nation in Europe, but attack on the values we hold dear.

And by the way, of the documents that Russia is a part of, including OSCE documents, including UN documents, including NATO-Russia documents.

NATO and the OSCE – we do enjoy a very close partnership. We cooperate on things from cyber, fighting terrorism, human security.

We are working together and many Allies inside the OSCE as participating states are working on bringing transparency and arms control.

And as someone who has been in your shoes some years back and you know how dear North Macedonia is to my heart, I wish you the best of luck.

We are ready to strengthen our partnership and I wish you the best of luck in a very important position.

And nothing makes me more proud than to see a friend in such an important international position. So welcome to NATO headquarters. This is also your home.