OSCE ministerial meeting opens in Maastricht, Netherlands

Home>>World

Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Tuesday, December 02, 2003

OSCE ministerial meeting opens in Maastricht, Netherlands

DISCUSSION

CHINESE

SEND TO FRIEND

The 11th ministerial meeting of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) opens in Maastricht Monday to address such issues as new threats, human trafficking and regional conflicts.

The meeting, convened by Dutch Foreign Minister and the OSCE's Chairman-in-Office of 2003, Jaap de Hoop Scheffer, takes place against the background of changing international circumstances that present new threats to security and stability in the 21st century.

"While the threat of major military conflict between states hasbeen reduced, some still remain and new risks from non-state actors have emerged that pose an increased threat to the OSCE region such as terrorism, organized crime and the trafficking in human beings," a press release from the Dutch Foreign Ministry said.

De Hoop Scheffer has repeatedly stressed that combating terrorism is of great importance, but not at the expense of basic democratic and human rights.

On the trafficking in human beings, discussions will concentrate on establishing a unit or representative to implement the proposed measures.

It is hoped that the efforts of the Netherlands Chairmanship tobring some of the regional conflicts and issues to a solution willproduce some clear results in Maastricht.

The Chairmanship has also paid special attention to Central Asia this year, through increased visits and dialogue with regional leaders and the appointment of the former Finnish President, Martti Ahtisaari, as a special OSCE envoy for Central Asia, the press release said.

Annual meetings offer OSCE foreign ministers the opportunity to review and assess the organization's activities during the past year and to comment on issues of security in any part of the region.

The OSCE now has 55 member states. It is not a treaty organization and therefore its decisions are not as binding to theparticipating countries as those of the treaty organizations.

Questions?Comments? Click here

Russia Urges Europe to Form New Collective Security System

OSCE to Help Central Asian States Fight Terrorism

Two Japanese diplomats killed in Iraq identified ( 3 Messages)

Developing corporate culture is key to global strategy ( 3 Messages)

16 percent of Chinese wives beaten by husband: survey ( 4 Messages)

China ceases diplomatic relations with Kiribati ( 6 Messages)

Hillary Clinton arrives in Baghdad hot on heels of Bush ( 5 Messages)