First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Ivica Dacic addressed the participants of the seminar devoted to building trust on the Korean Peninsula and in the Balkans, in Belgrade today.

The seminar is organized by the Embassy of the Republic of Korea, together with Belgrade NGO East-West Bridge.

Keynote speakers on the Korean side were Ambassador Chun Yung-woo, Chairman of the Korean Peninsula Future Forum and Former National Security Advisor to the President of the Republic of Korea Choi Kang, Vice President of reputable Asan Institute and Kim Chung, Deputy Director General of Policy Planning in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Korea.

Minister Dacic underlinedin his address that, this year,Serbia had a very responsible duty of chairing the OSCE. Our Chairmanship coincides with the biggest crisis since the Second World War - the crisis in Ukraine, and in the year marking the 40th anniversary of the signing of the Helsinki Final Act, 1975.

In the Western Balkans, the OSCE has played a significant role in supporting comprehensive reforms, as well as the process of reconciliation and cooperation in the region. For this reason, one of the key priorities of our Chairmanship is strengthening regional cooperation and improving the process of reconciliation.

The Minister emphasized that today we are witnessing the mass migration of people, young and old, women and children, seeking refuge from war, suffering and misery. The migration problem is becoming a global issue, along with transnational and global threats like terrorism, organized crime and climate change. Addressing these complex problems, which are often interrelated, requires cooperation - including with our Asian and Mediterranean Partners. Therefore, the
OSCE’s comprehensive security concept is more important than ever, said Minister Dacic at the opening of the seminar.

In their presentationsat the Conference, the Korean participants praised the involvement of Serbia in the region, as well as its OSCE Chairmanship, underlining that Serbia’s performance and initiatives can serve as a role model for overcoming distrust and strengthening cooperation on the Korean peninsula and further beyond, in the region of Eastern Asia.