The Secretary-General of the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), Lamberto Zannier, was in Luxembourg on 27 and 28 January 2016 at the invitation of Prime Minister Xavier Bettel.
He was first welcomed by the Prime Minister at the Hôtel de Bourgogne, before being received by the Minister of Foreign and European Affairs, Jean Asselborn, at the Hôtel Saint-Maximin.
Discussions between the Secretary-General and the Grand Duchy's political figures were aimed at addressing the major topics in international politics, providing an opportunity to take stock of the situation in Ukraine and the role of the OSCE in reaching a lasting solution to the crisis. Xavier Bettel called on all actors to fulfil their obligations under the Minsk agreements, whilst Minister Asselborn emphasised that "the OSCE is the main regional organisation that is able to help us solve this crisis which is the worst in Europe since the end of the Cold War", claiming "we are determined to make 2016 the year of the full implementation of the Minsk agreements."
The meetings also focused on responses to the migration issue, with the Prime Minister stating that "border closures are not a solution" and calling instead for short-term solutions as a bridge to the long-term. According to Minister Asselborn, international fora such as the EU and OSCE are essential in the management of the crisis and "the return to partitioning or to nationalist reflexes would cause a weakening of Europe. Respect for diversity is learned, as long as the will is there."
The OSCE Secretary-General was also received in audience by HRH the Grand Duke and the Palace, and engaged in meetings with the president of the Chamber of Deputies, Mars Di Bartolomeo; members of the Parliamentary Assembly of the OSCE; and members of the Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence, Cooperation and Immigration.
Top photo by SIP/Charles Caratini (L-R: Xavier Bettel; Lamberto Zannier).
Bottom photo by MAEE (L-R: Jean Asselborn; Lamberto Zannier)
