Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign and European Affairs and Trade and Chairperson of the OSCE Ian Borg continued his visit to Southeast Europe on Tuesday, with stops in Montenegro and North Macedonia, meeting key leaders and civil society representatives.
The 2024 Maltese Chairpersonship of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) visited Bosnia and Herzegovina earlier this week and will end its four-day itinerary with several meetings in Albania on Wednesday.
On Tuesday morning, in Podgorica, Deputy Prime Minister Borg held a meeting with the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Montenegro Ervin Ibrahimović, to discuss the country’s ongoing initiatives in collaboration with the OSCE.
“Montenegro is advancing toward attaining key reforms, from strengthening democratic institutions to enhancing the rule of law,” the OSCE Chairperson said, adding that “the OSCE stands ready to continue supporting you every step of the way.”
The Maltese OSCE delegation also held talks with media representatives, highlighting the Organization’s ongoing efforts to promote media freedom and the safety of journalists. In this regard, Minister Borg condemned Sunday night’s assault on a local journalist, and commended the Montenegro authorities for swiftly denouncing this violence.
In the afternoon, in the North Macedonian capital Skopje, Minister Borg met with Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski, Foreign Minister Timcho Mucunski, and Speaker of the Assembly Afrim Gashi. The OSCE Chairperson thanked North Macedonia for its active contribution to the OSCE through its 2023 Chairpersonship, before passing the baton to Malta a year ago.
In comments to the media, Borg reflected on several ongoing challenges, including the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine. “This war has exposed the fragility of peace in Europe and revealed a broader trend that threatens the stability of our multilateral system. However, the OSCE is well-positioned to serve as a bridge within this volatile landscape and the Maltese Chairpersonship is focused on ensuring this Organization remains functional and impactful for when it’s needed most,” Minister Borg stated.
In Skopje, the Maltese Deputy Prime Minister also joined his North Macedonia counterpart and the 2025 Chairperson, Finland Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen, for an important meeting of the OSCE Troika ahead of next month’s Ministerial Council in Malta, which will bring together the foreign ministers of the Organization’s 57 participating states.
“The Ministerial Council in Malta will be an opportunity to work together towards a future of resilience, security and prosperity,” Minister Borg affirmed.
Photos: ODPM-MFET
