06.10.2015.

Workshop on the implementation of "Code of Conduct on Politico-Military Aspects of Security" opened

State Secretary at the Ministry of Defence Zoran Djordjevic opened today, in the Central Military Club, the workshop on the implementation of "Code of Conduct on Politico-Military Aspects of Security", organized in Belgrade by the Republic of Serbia and Switzerland, with the support of the OSCE Mission to Serbia. The opening of the workshop was attended by the Head of the OSCE Mission to Serbia Ambassador Peter Burkhard.

The workshop, which will last until October 9, will be held in the year of Serbia's chairmanship of the Organization for European Security and Cooperation, or over two consecutive chairmanships of Switzerland and Serbia.

In the introductory part, the audience was addressed by Secretary of State Djordjevic and Swiss Ambassador to Serbia Jean-Daniel Ruch.

Djordjevic expressed gratitude for the cooperation and the important support of Switzerland, especially its Ministry of Defence, which for years has been an example of commitment to active engagement in promoting the important OSCE document.

- This is a sort of a multilateral mechanism that, in an objective and fair manner, can contribute to preventing crises and conflicts, mitigating their effects and stabilizing the situation in the regions where they are now current. Taking into account the complexity of the current military-political situation in the world, the importance of the implementation of the document with consistent and equal respect for the interests of all OSCE participating states is more than evident. Therefore, it is necessary to intensify efforts to keep its role and strengthen it in the future - Secretary of State said and emphasized that this also implies the necessity of intensifying efforts towards a reaffirmation of the role of international organizations such as the OSCE, but also towards more responsible behaviour of states in the field of defence and security, in the function of preventing the emergence of new crises and more efficient management over the existing ones.

Djordjevic said that Belgrade had also hosted a workshop in March 2014 which marked 20 years since the adoption of the OSCE "Code of Conduct on Politico-Military Aspects of Security".

- In this regard, I particularly wish to emphasize that, taking into account the values, standards and principles that underlie it, the relevance and topicality of this politically binding document for all member states of the OSCE is still indisputable after so many years - Djordjevic said.

The gathering was also addressed by the Ambassador of Switzerland in Serbia, who said that he was honoured to attend the workshop. According to him, it is very important to talk about the subject, to have constructive dialogues, advocate for the respect of the international law and universal principles of Conduct on Politico-Military Aspects of Security, and that these are all ways of ensuring regional and global stability and security.

As pointed out by the Ambassador, the joint workshop organized in Belgrade is an indicator of the excellent cooperation between Serbia and Switzerland, and confirms the role and significance of the "Code of Conduct on Politico-Military Aspects of Security", as one of the key OSCE documents.

The aim of the workshop is to make the "Code of Conduct on Politico-Military Aspects of Security" as a framework document more practical for its effective implementation in the armed forces of the member states of the OSCE.