Belarus chairs OSCE Forum for Security Co-operation
Belarus has assumed the chairmanship of the Forum for Security Co-operation of the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) – as reported in the Foreign Ministry’s press service
Belarus’ chairmanship of the OSCE Forum for Security Co-operation (FSC) will last from April to August. The Ministry explained that the chairmanship of the forum is carried out by the OSCE member states on a rotational basis. The term of each chairmanship is about four months. Prior to that, Belarus chaired in April-August 2005. In 2022, the forum will be chaired in turn by Azerbaijan, Belarus and Belgium.
“Alongside organising weekly meetings of the forum, Belarus will also be responsible for developing recommendations to the OSCE Permanent Council on holding a session on conventional arms control and confidence and security building measures within the framework of the OSCE Annual Security Review Conference. Moreover, for the period of the Belarusian chairmanship, the FSC will host the annual meeting to review the implementation of the OSCE Code of Conduct on Politico-Military Aspects of Security,” noted the Belarusian Foreign Ministry.
The FSC was established in accordance with the provisions of the Helsinki Document of the 1992 Conference on Security and Co-operation in Europe. It works to enhance security and military stability in Europe while embracing some of the most fundamental politico-military agreements of the OSCE participating states. It promotes compliance with core confidence and security building measures to regulate the exchange of military information between the states and conduct of cross-checks, as well as the Code of Conduct, which is a key document that ensures democratic control of security forces.
The FSC also develops norms and provides practical assistance in the fight against the proliferation of illicit small arms and light weapons, deals with the non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, and monitors regular contacts, interaction and the exchange of military information between the OSCE member states.
