site.btaBulgaria Vows Persistent Support for OSCE Missions during its Presidency of EU Council

Vienna/Sofia, December 8 (BTA) - Bulgaria will continue to work closely with, and support consistently, the missions of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) during the Bulgarian Presidency of the EU Council in the first half of 2018, said Bulgarian Deputy Foreign Minister Emilia Kraleva. She was speaking during an OSCE foreign ministerial in the Austrian capital and was quoted by her ministry.

She said that the Western Balkans are a key priority for the Bularian Presidency and this matched perfectly the OSCE agenda and its missions in the region.

The Bulgarian diplomat also said that it is important for Bulgaria to see the EU deepening its support for OSCE in the three dimensions of security: politico-military; the economic and environmental; and the human dimensions.

Kraleva also said that the crisis in Ukraine remains a major challenge for security in Europe. She expressed concern over the growing number of civilian victims and the worsening humanitarian situation. "Respecting the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the countries, and non-violation of the internationally recognized borders, are founding principles of the European security architecture and today they are more important than ever," said Kraleva.