Explore Campus 360°
“Only an engaged young generation will be able to shape a democracy. Only a person who understands his or her own country, with all its history and challenges, and who is able to view it from different angles, can make an informed choice at the polling booth. Discussion within society is the basic foundation for a functioning democracy“, Ambassador Breth told the students and staff of SEE University. He made these remarks whilst speaking on the topic of the added value provided by the OSCE Mission to the country. His speech was part of a public event organized by the SEEU Scientific Research Institute “Max van der Stoel” within the Institute’s programme of “Diplomatic Lecture Series”.
Ambassador Breth explained that the overarching goal for the OSCE is to enable societies to solve whatever conflicts might exist in their respective countries. “I am not only talking about direct military threats. Conflicts might arise from many other issues like poverty, deficits in the judiciary, minority or media freedom issues, lack of good education or even environmental hazards – and evolve into a security threat over time”. He recalled that the OSCE Mission to Skopje is present to help assure that there will never be another 2001—another armed conflict—in this country. He reiterated his conviction that the overwhelming majority of citizens agree with this purpose.
Within the discussion he conducted with the students and scholars of SEEU, Ambassador Breth explained the different areas on which the OSCE primarily focuses: inter-ethnic relations, implementation of the Ohrid Framework Agreement, helping the country in developing a community-oriented police service (in line with international human rights standards), the furthering of police reform, training to fight organized crime, and other similar initiatives.
The Ambassador also explained the role and expectations of the OSCE for the upcoming elections in Macedonia. “We as a Field Mission only monitor the security situation during the elections, but the ODIHR Mission will observe the election procedures.”
Ambassador Breth recalled that former OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities Max van der Stoel was always interested in the future of the region. “Max van der Stoel was always very interested about the future of SEE University. His contribution was unique and he belonged to the generation that left the world in safe human hands, in a better situation then they inherited it”.