OSCE Ministerial Council Meeting in Milan, Italy, 6–7 December 2018.

The 25th OSCE Ministerial Council Meeting was held in Milan, 6-7 December 2018. H.E. Mr. Sturla Sigurjónsson, Permanent Secretary of the  Ministry for Foreign Affairs (MFA), represented the Foreign Minister of Iceland. The Council was also attended by Guðni Bragason, Permanent Representative of Iceland to OSCE in Vienna and Counsellor Ms. Ólöf Hrefna Kristjánsdóttir, MFA. 

The situation in Ukraine put its mark on discussions at the meeting, especially recent events at the Sea of Azon and the Kerch Strait on 25th November.  The Permanent Secretary said that these events gave rise to concerns over European security. Violations of the freedom of maritime passage touched a raw nerve in all seafaring nations. He  called on Russia to release the sailors and ships seized.

He reiterated Iceland´s support for Ukraine´s and Georgia´s sovereignty and independence within its internationally recognized borders and call on Russia to adhere to international obligations.

The Permanent Secretary called for the modernizing of the Vienna Document, that all participating states should honor fully the Conventional Armed Forces in Europe Treaty (CFE) and the Open Skies Treaty.

He welcomed the OSCE focus on Digital Transformation in the context of  economic and environmental security and emphasize that the increased use of renewable energy means increased energy security. He reiterated Iceland´s commitment to gender equality, the protection of children and the rights of LGBTI individuals, as well as the strong support for OSCE´s Human Dimension and ODIHR and other OSCE Institutions.

Statement of the Permanent Secretary of Iceland on 6 December 2018.