At the invitation of Germany's Foreign Minister and OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, Frank-Walter Steinmeier, Federal Councillor Didier Burkhalter will attend the Ministerial Council being held this year on 8 December 2016 in Hamburg. The conference will focus on resolving conflicts in the OSCE area, including the OSCE’s efforts in Ukraine, arms control and strengthening the OSCE’s capacity to act.
Mr Burkhalter will call for greater dialogue on key issues concerning European security and finding joint solutions to today’s challenges. He will also take part in a special session dealing with arms control where he will reaffirm Switzerland’s support for a structured discussion on conventional weapons control intended to build trust and strengthen security in Europe.
Mr Burkhalter will also hold bilateral talks with other foreign ministers from the various OSCE participating states attending the Ministerial Council in Hamburg.
The Ministerial Council is the most important decision-making and management body of the OSCE at foreign-minister level. Each December it sets the course of the OSCE's work for the coming year. Austria will take over the OSCE Chairmanship on 1 January 2017.
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