Latinovic: The OSCE Summit's main topic is the war in Ukraine; adoption of Declaration on the fight against corruption important for the region

Branka Latinovic, Vice President of the Forum for International Relations and former ambassador to the OSCE, stated for Kosovo Online that the main message at the OSCE ministerial summit in Skopje had been related to the war in Eastern Europe and emphasized the importance of adopting the Declaration in the fight against corruption.

Latinovic highlights that the main messages were sent to Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, and thus to Russia, about the need to respect the Helsinki Final Act, among other things, as the first and most important principle of respecting the territorial integrity and sovereignty of states, and to bring an end to the conflict.

"In this context, there were also responses to the absence of a number of participating states, considering the presence of the foreign minister. Other topics were related to what is currently happening in the work of the OSCE and its bodies, primarily related to climate change, but also to everything happening in Europe and around us, including our region. It should be emphasized that the most significant document adopted during the first day of the summit is the Declaration signed by the foreign ministers of the region in the fight against corruption. In this way, recognition is given to the importance that the OSCE has in the region and its role in the fight against corruption, providing support and assistance to countries, primarily in strengthening legal instruments, police cooperation to tackle this not only regional but also a global problem, and reduce it to the smallest possible extent," Latinovic said.

Latinovic emphasizes that it remains to be seen whether any other documents will be adopted or declarations signed by the end of the summit.

"Whether it is of a regional nature, in the context of the OSCE itself, or whether there will be conditions for adopting another document by all participating states," she concluded.