MaltaMedia.com

The Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dr. Tonio Borg, participated in an Informal Meeting of Foreign Ministers of OSCE Participating States on the Greek island of Corfu on 27th and 28th June.

The meeting was convened by the OSCE Greek Chairmanship-in-Office to discuss the future of European security and how best to take the dialogue forward. During the meeting, Foreign Ministers from the 56 OSCE Participating States held a wide-ranging debate on security challenges in the OSCE region and agreed to launch a European security dialogue within the OSCE.

Intervening in the discussion, the Deputy Prime Minister emphasized in particular the risks and challenges facing the Mediterranean region and their implications for European security. He noted that many changes had taken place since or as a result of the end of the Cold War and that the European security dialogue that will unfold would need to take this into account.

The Deputy Prime Minister acknowledged that the international community faces a combination of old as well as previously unexperienced challenges including organized crime, migrant smuggling, trafficking in human beings and in arms, terrorism, energy security, security risks from environmental degradation and cyber security.

Malta also expressed support for the security dialogue to be held within the OSCE since it is the most inclusive pan-European security organization; all States operate on an equal footing; and in view of its comprehensive approach to security. The Deputy Prime Minister concluded that the debate ahead will be complex but expressed confidence that “our cooperative efforts will lead to enhanced security for our entire continent…from Vancouver to Vladivostok and from Vilnius to Valletta”.

The Deputy Prime Minister was accompanied by Malta’s Permanent Representative to the OSCE Ambassador Christopher Grima, and by Mr. Anthony Attard, the Head of Secretariat of the Deputy Prime Minister.