Foreign Minister George Gerapetritis said on Thursday that Greece occupies a very important position within the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) – that of the head of the OSCE Office of Democratic Institutions and Human Rights – in a statement to the Greek public broadcaster ERT upon his arrival at the 31st Meeting of OSCE Foreign Ministers in Valletta. He noted that this Office deals with the integrity of elections, with the consolidation of democratic institutions, with human rights, with the protection of the vulnerable and minorities and the removal of inequalities.

He pointed out that Greece had submitted a joint proposal with Turkey for two of the four important positions of the Organisation, in May 2024.

“It is a move of high symbolism, which puts peace at the centre, the possibility of states with historical ‘baggage’ to be able to co-exist and create a driving force in the OSCE,” he noted and added: “The Greek candidacy was the only one that gathered unanimity in the Permanent Council and we expect the final decision tomorrow.”

Gerapetritis said that the meeting taking place in Malta is crucial and is happening at a time of extremely difficult conditions in Europe, with a war raging in the heart of the continent.

“Greece, with its responsible attitude over the last fifty years in favour of universal values, democracy, human rights, the peaceful resolution of disputes, will once again be in the foreground,” he underlined.

“Greece is constantly expanding its diplomatic footprint. It is in the foreground of international developments, of international organisations and continues to serve international law, the peaceful resolution of differences and, above all, the consolidation of peace and prosperity,” he concluded.