As the incoming OSCE Chairman-in-Office, First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Serbia Ivica Dacic, talked today in Kiev with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Pavel Klimkin.

During the meeting, the Ministers exchanged views on the activities planned by Serbia for its 2015 OSCE Chairmanship and the Organization’s further involvement in Ukraine, especially through the work of its field missions.
Prior to the meeting with his Ukrainian colleague, Minister Dacic visited the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission, where he was extensively informed by Head of Mission, Ambassador Ertugrul Apakan, about the work of monitoring teams and upcoming activities, from 1st January, when Serbia takes over the OSCE Chairmanship.
After the meeting, Minister Dacic said that the Ukrainian crisis would be the priority during Serbia’s chairmanship. He said that efforts should be made to stop further violence in Ukraine at all costs, as well as that ceasefire and the peace plan of President Poroshenko should be respected.
The Serbian Foreign Minister stressed that Serbia respected the territorial integrity of Ukraine and believed that it was the basic OSCE principle. Minister Dacic thanked Heidi Tagliavini for accepting his request to retain the position of personal representative of the OSCE Chairman-in-Office to the Trilateral contact group next year, during the Serbian OSCE Chairmanship.
“We would like our chairmanship to be transparent, impartial, objective and beneficial to the Organization. I am committed to firmly respect the Minsk Agreement and expect the Trilateral contact group shortly to continue work on resolving all issues envisaged by this Agreement”, said Minister Dacic and expressed his expectation that economic issues, humanitarian situation and the issue of exchanging prisoners would soon be on the agenda.
“Advantage should be given to the political process rather than to violence and weapons. Serbia should be trusted as a serious country that will not take sides but will be committed to the principles of the OSCE”, concluded Dacic.