September 9, 2010 - 11:52 AMT
Ireland pledges to contribute to resolution of protracted regional conflicts in its capacity as OSCE Chair

The forthcoming OSCE Summit in Astana in December offers a unique opportunity to renew key security and confidence-building commitments agreed by the 56 OSCE participating States, including the landmark Vienna Document, said Irish Foreign Minister Micheal Martin in an address to the OSCE Forum for Security Co-operation (FSC) in Vienna today.

Looking ahead to Ireland's Chairmanship of the OSCE in 2012, Minister Martin said: "The OSCE plays an important role in conflict prevention and resolution, particularly in relation to the protracted conflicts in the region. As Chair, we will work hard to contribute to the resolution of these conflicts, drawing on our experience in this area in the context of the Northern Ireland peace process."