The representatives of the 57 OSCE member countries, the six OSCE Mediterranean Partners for Cooperation countries – Algeria, Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Morocco and Tunisia – and numerous international organisations will meet at the OSCE Mediterranean Conference in Palermo on 24 and 25 October 2017 to discuss the flow of migrants and refugees in the Euro-Mediterranean region.
Italy will take over the OSCE Chairmanship next year, but the foundation of this important mandate will be established at this Mediterranean Conference,” said Italian Foreign Minister Angelino Alfano. “In fact,“ said the minister, “our goal is to strengthen awareness among OSCE member states that a joint response is necessary to the migration emergency and to the challenges coming from the Mediterranean.” “It is no coincidence that we chose Palermo for such an international meeting. Sicily was the place where Arabs and Normans created not just an artistic style unique in the world that still shines today as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, but also a basic model of social integration and religious tolerance between different peoples,” Mr Alfano concluded.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Angelino Alfano, the President of the OSCE, Sebastian Kurz, and the Secretary General of the OSCE, Thomas Greminger, will open the conference on 24 October, 2017 at 9:30 am.
In the ensuing policy session participant Ministers and other high-level delegates will discuss progress on security and cooperation in the Mediterranean at a time of vast movements of migrants and refugees, focusing on security related questions.
This working group will give an opportunity to the countries bordering the Mediterranean and the other participating countries to discuss how to turn the emergencies and crises arising from migration into an opportunity for renewed regional and international cooperation.
The following press opportunities will take place during the OSCE conference:
Monday 23 October
PALAZZO DEI NORMANNI (Piazza Indipendenza, Porta Carraia di Palazzo Reale, Palermo):
• 1:30 pm to 5 pm: Conference “Women, Peace and Security: a Gender Perspective on the Future of the MENA Region”, organised by the New-Med Track II Research Network and by the 2017 Italian Chairmanship of the OSCE Mediterranean Contact Group. The discussion will focus on the importance of promoting the role of women in the context of security in the Mediterranean (Pio La Torre Room)
• 5:30 pm: Presentation press conference of the OSCE Conference by Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Angelino Alfano (Press Room)
• 6:30 pm: Welcome address to the Heads of Delegation, (Mattarella Room) (photographers and cameramen only). For journalists, this event will be streamed in the auditorium.
Tuesday 24 October
CONVENTION CENTRE OF HOTEL VILLA IGIEA (Salita Belmonte, 43 – Palermo)
• 9 am: Reception of the Heads of Delegation by Minister Angelino Alfano (photographers and cameramen only)
• 9:30 am: Opening Speeches of the OSCE Conference by Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Angelino Alfano, by Austrian Foreign Minister Sebastian Kurz and by Secretary General of the OSCE Thomas Greminger (photographers and cameramen only).
Journalists may follow the session from the auditorium in the Hotel’s convention centre.
• 12 pm: Group photo (photographers and cameramen only)
• 3 pm: Press conference by Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Angelino Alfano
Wednesday 25 October
CONVENTION CENTRE OF HOTEL VILLA IGIEA (Salita Belmonte, 43 – Palermo)
• 12 pm Conclusion of the OSCE conference proceedings (photographers and cameramen only).
Journalists may follow the session from the auditorium in the Hotel’s convention centre.
Journalists and cameramen wishing to apply for accreditation to the Conference and related events (23-24-25 October), or wishing to request an interview are asked to do so in one of the following ways (by 6 pm on Friday, 20 October):
– by filling the interactive form and selecting the event of interest at the link http://mae.accreditationsystem.info/ITA/Indice.asp, attaching thereto, unless already provided, the information requested in digital format (letter from the media organisation and, for representatives of foreign media, also a Note Verbale released by the Rome Embassy of the media organisation’s Country).
– by sending an email to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation’s Institutional Press and Communication Service at the following address:
press_OSCEPalermo@esteri.it (tel. + 39 06/3691.3432 or 8573 or 8210), attaching thereto the letter of his/her media organisation (or press card) and, for members of the foreign press, a Note Verbale released by the Rome Embassy of the media organisation’s Country.
Due to the limited space available, where necessary, a POOL may be created whose size will be determined by the Press Service of the Foreign Ministry.
Accreditation badges must be collected in person in the following ways:
Monday 23 October
PALAZZO DEI NORMANNI (Piazza Indipendenza, Porta Carraia di Palazzo Reale – Palermo)
• 12:30 pm – 1:15 pm for the Conference “Women, Peace and Security: A Gender Perspective on the Future of the MENA Region”
• 4 pm – 5:15 pm for the Presentation press conference of the OSCE Conference by Minister Alfano
• 5:45 pm – 6 pm for the Opening address to the Heads of Delegation
Tuesday 24 October
CONVENTION CENTRE OF HOTEL VILLA IGIEA (Salita Belmonte 43, – Palermo)
• 7:45 am – 8:30 am: for filming of the Reception of the Heads of Delegation by Minister Angelino Alfano
• 8 am – 9 am for the Opening speeches of the Conference
• 10:45 am – 11:30 am for the Group photo
• 1:30 pm 2:30 pm for the Press conference by Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Angelino Alfano
Wednesday 25 October
CONVENTION CENTRE OF HOTEL VILLA IGIEA (Salita Belmonte 43, Palermo)
• 10:30 am – 11:30 am for the Conclusion of the proceedings
The discussions can be followed via Twitter @OSCE or by using the hashtag #OSCEMed.
The agenda and more information on the event are available at the following link:
http://www.osce.org/event/2017-osce-mediterranean-conference.
