The OSCE-UN cooperation, the situation in and around Ukraine and the OSCE’s role in de-escalating the crisis were the topics of the meeting between the OSCE Chairman-in-Office, Foreign Minister of Serbia Ivica Dacic and UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.

The meeting, attended also by OSCE Secretary General Lamberto Zannier, took place ahead of the briefing to be held by the OSCE Chairman-in-Office Dacic in the UN Security Council on UN-OSCE cooperation.
Secretary-General Ban and Chairman-in-Office Dacic underlined the need for a peaceful settlement of the crisis in Ukraine, emphasizing the opportunity created by the agreement reached on 12 February in Minsk. They stressed that OSCE and UN presences in Ukraine should explore ways to strengthen cooperation, especially when it comes to humanitarian and human rights issues.
Chairman-in-Office Dacic praised the diplomatic efforts of the Trilateral Contact Group, adding that concrete steps were expected to be taken in the implementation of the Package of Measures, adopted on 12 February, but that they could be taken only after a sustainable cease-fire were in pacel. He stressed that the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission, which was continuously and objectively reporting from the conflict area, despite many challenges, was unique and invaluable.
“In the year we commemorate the seventieth anniversary of the UN Charter and the fortieth anniversary of the OSCE Helsinki Final Act, the two Organizations will continue to work closely together”, said Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.
He praised the OSCE – “a major regional Organization where decisions are taken by consensus” - for its contribution to international cooperation and to conflict prevention and resolution.