On December 4-6, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Mariana Betsa, as a member of an official delegation led by Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Andrii Sybiha, took part in the OSCE Ministerial Council Meeting (Ta' Qali, Republic of Malta).
In her address at a side-event on the issue of Ukrainian detainees “In Russia’s Captivity: Way to Freedom”, initiated by Ukraine with the broad support of partner countries, Mariana Betsa emphasized that “Ukraine is determined to save its citizens from Russia`s captivity. It is one of the fundamental elements of our vision towards restoration of the comprehensive, just and lasting peace for Ukraine, formulated in the Peace Formula of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.”
The event highlighted the terrorist tactics of mass arbitrary detentions of Ukrainian citizens, including OSCE officials, by the aggressor state, as well as the joint efforts of Ukraine and the international community to seek their release, primarily within the framework of the recently agreed Montreal Pledge. Nariman Dzhelyalov, First Deputy Chairman of the Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar People, Olha Babych, witness, wife of the abducted mayor of Hola Prystan, and Olha Reshetylova, head of the NGO «Media Initiative for Human Rights» also took part in the side-event.
Addressing another thematic event, on gender equality in the OSCE region, organized by the Maltese Chairpersonship in the Organization, Mariana Betsa highlighted the impact of Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine on the situation of women, the modern role of women in Ukrainian society and in the Armed Forces of Ukraine, and also noted the participation and leadership of women among the key factors in ensuring sustainable peace in Ukraine.
Within the framework of the OSCE Ministerial Meeting, the Deputy Minister held a bilateral meeting with Acting Secretary General of the OSCE Kate Fearon, during which a wide range of topical issues of the development of cooperation between Ukraine and the OSCE were discussed.
During the talks with State Secretary of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs of the Swiss Confederation Alexandre Fasel, Mariana Betsa expressed gratitude to Switzerland for its significant contribution to supporting the Ukrainian Peace Formula, hosting the first Global Peace Summit and other steps of the Swiss side aimed at restoring comprehensive, just and lasting peace in Ukraine. The interlocutors focused special attention on the issues of advancing cooperation within international organizations.
The Deputy Minister also held a meeting with representatives of the Ukrainian community in the Republic of Malta, in particular with the Foundation for the Ukrainian Community of Malta, emphasizing that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is focused on the issues of preserving the national identity of Ukrainians abroad, as well as updating the policy of cooperation with the global Ukrainian community. She called on Ukrainians to be active advocates of Ukraine abroad. “We greatly appreciate that you are helping Ukraine to survive in the most difficult times. Your advocacy and charitable activities are an invaluable contribution to our common victory,” said Mariana Betsa.