​On January 1, Malta assumed the rotating presidency of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) in the midst of the crisis the security organization is experiencing due to the war between Russia and Ukraine, two of its 57 member states, EFE reports.

Jan Borg, Malta’s foreign minister, is responsible for the presidency, which will last until December 31.

By assuming this responsibility, the Republic of Malta facilitated a last-minute compromise in early December 2023 to avoid the impasse that threatened the functioning of the OSCE due to Russia’s veto of Estonia’s acceptance of the annual rotating chairmanship as planned.

Both Malta and Estonia are members of the European Union (EU), but unlike the Baltic nation, the Mediterranean archipelago nation is not a member of NATO, a fact that mattered to Moscow as it agreed.

An OSCE press release on Monday noted that Malta had taken over the “acting chairmanship of the OSCE in order to strengthen the organisation’s resilience and effectiveness”.

“The decision to appoint this year’s president, although it was taken at the last minute, demonstrated the collective ambition to save our organization,” Borg emphasized in a statement, in which he recalled the “current complex and critical challenges” that exist at this time for European security.

“Ukraine will continue to be a priority”

“The lack of full respect for our common values ​​and obligations undermines trust, the possibility of a meaningful dialogue, and the prospects for peace and security in our region,” the new president warned.

He assured that “Ukraine will continue to be a priority” and that his country “will continue to insist on the need to end Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, while looking for ways to help Ukraine and its people.”

Borg also said he would ensure the continuity of previous presidencies by “putting human rights and people’s security at the center of his efforts.”

“Malta believes in the importance of maintaining the OSCE as an integrative organization of various participating states, unique in uniting the Euro-Atlantic and Eurasian communities, as well as in fostering relations with Mediterranean and Asian partners for cooperation,” Borg insisted.

He also promised that his country, elected as a member of the United Nations Security Council until the end of 2024, “will be at the forefront of multilateral efforts to strengthen cooperation to restore confidence.”

Decisions in the OSCE are made by consensus, and at the organization’s last summit, several countries accused Russia of abusing this rule to block decisions on which the proper functioning of the OSCE depends, reminds EFE.

The organization carries out missions to monitor peace, observe elections, protect press freedom or human rights.