Talks on security in Europe and award for the OSCE: Federal Councillor Didier Burkhalter to travel to Magdeburg
Bern, 17.09.2015 - Federal Councillor Didier Burkhalter, German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier and Serbian Foreign Minister Ivica Dačić will convene for a meeting of the Troika of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) on Saturday 19 September 2015 in Magdeburg, after which the Kaiser Otto Award will be bestowed on the OSCE at a ceremony attended by the members of the Troika. For the city of Magdeburg, this accolade is a symbol of recognition for the OSCE’s commitment to promoting security in Europe.
Mr Burkhalter is to attend a meeting of the OSCE Troika on Saturday in Magdeburg. Talks with the Serbian Foreign Minister and OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, Ivica Dačić, and the German Foreign Minister and next year’s OSCE Chairperson, Frank-Walter Steinmeier, will focus among other things on the current situation in Ukraine, possibilities for further strengthening the OSCE’s capacity to act as well as preparations for the OSCE Ministerial Council meeting on 3-4 December 2015 in Belgrade. The OSCE Troika comprises the current Chairperson-in-Office together with the previous and following year’s Chairperson. Its role is to provide assistance to the presiding OSCE country.
Following the meeting, the members of the Troika will accept the Kaiser Otto Award in Magdeburg Cathedral on behalf of the OSCE. For the city of Magdeburg, this accolade is in honour of the OSCE’s work and commitment to promoting security and peace in Europe. First presented in 2005, the award recognises individuals or organisations deserving of praise for the contribution they have made to European integration and to promoting the European idea, particularly in relation to the states of eastern and south-eastern Europe. The OSCE will be the first-ever organisation to receive the Kaiser Otto Award. Former President of Germany Richard von Weizsäcker (2005), former President of Latvia Vaira Vīķe-Freiberga (2007), former Polish Foreign Minister Władysław Bartoszewski (2009), German Chancellor Angela Merkel (2011) and former German government minister Egon Bahr (2013) were the previous recipients.
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