Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe
The Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) is the world's largest regional organisation that consists of 57 states of Europe, Central Asia and North America.
Belarus has been a participant of the OSCE since January 30, 1992. Since 1992, the Permanent Mission of Belarus to the OSCE has been operating in Vienna (Austria).
Belarus takes an active part in the Organisation's activities within the framework of its substantive and subsidiary bodies, including the OSCE Permanent Council and its Committees, the Forum for Security Cooperation (FSC), as well as the Joint Consultative Group (JCG) and the Open Skies Consultative Commission (OSCC) – the negotiation bodies of the Treaty on Conventional Armed Force in Europe (CFE) and the Treaty on Open Skies.
Within the OSCE, Belarus supports activities to combat transnational threats and challenges, human trafficking and consistently advocates strengthening the OSCE's potential for conflict resolution.
Representatives of Belarus work in the OSCE Secretariat, its institutions and field missions.
The international conference “Preventing and Countering Terrorism in the Digital Age” took place in Minsk in October 2018 under the aegis of OSCE. It was a landmark event that reflected the recognition and role of Belarus in the OSCE.
The delegation of the National Assembly of the Republic of Belarus takes part in the work of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly. Belarus initiated the adoption of a number of the Assembly’s resolutions on combatting trafficking in human beings, promotion of new and renewable sources of energy, “green” economy, protection and promotion of social and economic rights, response to the appearance of new psychoactive substances, digital economy in the OSCE area, strategic forecasting in science, as well as development of technologies and innovations for sustainable growth.
In July 2017, the Annual Session of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly took place in Minsk for the first time. The event was opened by the President of the Republic of Belarus.
In April 2019 Minsk hosted the International Parliamentary Conference of the OSCE PA Silk Road Support Group “Belt and Road: Deepening Cooperation for Sustainable Development and Prosperity” initiated by the National Assembly of the Republic of Belarus. The Minsk Declaration was adopted during the conference.
Belarus has been developing co-operation with the OSCE Institutions – Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR), Representative on Freedom of the Media, High Commissioner on National Minorities (HCNM), as well as the OSCE Secretariat, including Coordinator of the OSCE Economic and Environmental Activities and Special Representative / Coordinator for Combating Trafficking in Human Beings.
On November 30 – December 1, 2023 the delegation of the Republic of Belarus took part in the annual OSCE Ministerial Council in Skopje (North Macedonia), where the Joint statement by a group of CSTO member States on the current security situation in the OSCE area was adopted.
