Room 21, Parliament Buildings

Room 21, Parliament Buildings

Room 29, Parliament Buildings

Room 29, Parliament Buildings

Vision damage from a complication of premature birth can be halted if it’s caught soon enough — and a California Perinatal Quality Care (CPQCC) and Stanford Medicine-led study shows the state’s screening process is helping close racial gaps.

The post California excels at screening babies for main cause of childhood blindness appeared first on Scope.

Bryant Lin has taken his diagnosis of stage IV ‘never-smoker’ lung cancer, which disproportionately affects those of Asian descent, and turned it into a medical school course. He hopes the world takes notes along with the students and Stanford Medicine community.

The post A doctor, his cancer journey and a uniquely teachable moment appeared first on Scope.

The Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (AERA) Committee has highlighted that farmers may need to ensure that planning permission is in place or that they have already applied for the necessary permissions to avail of the new Farm Business Improvement Scheme (FSIB) Tier Two.

Lesley Hogg, the new Clerk/Chief Executive of the Northern Ireland Assembly has taken up her post.

The Assembly’s Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs Committee (AERA) received briefings today from a number of agricultural and environmental stakeholders on the possible challenges and opportunities of the recent EU Referendum.

dklaughman has added a photo to the pool:

Eastern Phoebe at Bombay Hook NWR, Delaware.

dklaughman has added a photo to the pool:

Georgetown, during Return Day.
More info at this website: www.returnday.com/

Even for organizations that are banking on SOA, SOA governance remains a largely informal process. Bad idea, say experts Cathy Lippert, Mark Dutra, and Bruce Bailey.

Wikis and spreadsheets are great tools - but not for SOA governance. Experts Cathy Lippert, Mark Dutra, and Bruce Bailey talk about the importance of maintaining and carefully managing an inventory of SOA assets.

What's the connection between a well-managed inventory of SOA assets, project delivery, and high-level architecture? Experts Cathy Lippert, Mark Dutra, and Bruce Bailey explain.

Experts Eric Stephens and Tim Hall discussion why it's important to revived the dormant conversation about IT governance.

Balancing functional, technical, operational requirements to meet the challenge of defining appropriate governance "guardrails."

Bringing IT architecture out of the ivory tower to make governance a less intimidating, more collaborative process.

What are we talking about when we talk about SOA Governance? Why does is matter?

Some things never change: Exploring the most persistent SOA Governance challenges.

The most common SOA Governance mistakes and why organizations make them.

Cloud, mobile, IoT - what new challenges face SOA Governance in the rapid evolution of enterprise IT?

A conversation that started at OOW16 grew into a community group focused on exploring and mastering how modern software architecture - including micro services and APIs - can serve the evolving needs of today's enterprises. Group members discuss the issues and technologies in this podcast.

Chabot development comes with a unique set of requirements and considerations that may prove challenging to those making their first excursion into this new breed of services. This podcast features a panel of developers who have been there, done that, and are willing to talk about it.

The previous podcast featured a discussion of chatbot development with a panel of developers who were part of a program that provided early access to the Oracle Intelligent Bots platform available within the Mobile Cloud Service. In this podcast we continue the discussion of chatbot development with an entirely new panel of developers who also had the opportunity to work with that same Intelligent Bots beta release.

• Oracle ACE Director Mia Urman is Chief Executive Officer of AuraPlayer Limited. She’s based in Brookline, Massachusetts.
• Peter Crew is Director at SDS Group, and Chief Technical Officer with MagiaCX Solutions, in Perth, Australia
• And Christoph Ruepprich is Infrastructure Senior Principal with Accenture Enkitec Group. He’s based in Dallas, TX

In this program Mia, Peter, and Christoph compare notes on the particular challenges that defined their chatbot development experiences, and discuss what they did to meet those challenges.

Kelsey Hightower is a developer advocate, an open source aficionado, and a widely recognized expert on Kubernetes. He is the creator of the open source tutorial Kubernetes The Hard Way, available on Github, and he is a co-author of Kubernetes: Up and Running: Dive Into the Future of Infrastructure, the second edition of which is now available from O’Reilly Media. In this program his conversation with Oracle's Karthik Gaekwad encompasses Kubernetes, Open Source, cloud computing, developer advocacy and a lot more. Listen!

See the complete show notes.

Popular culture abounds with examples of artificial intelligence gone awry. From HAL 9000’s emotionless apology to a distressed astronaut, to the various incarnations of the Terminator, to the Matrix series’ disturbing vision of humans as batteries, it’s easy to see why people may be a bit leery of the idea of thinking machines.This program brings together a group of software developers to discuss why they are simultaneously excited by and concerned about AI. 

See the complete show notes here.

Groundbreaker Podcast associate producer Javed Mohammed [@JavedMohammed] first encountered Dr. Hulme in January 2020 at Oracle OpenWorld Middle East in Dubai, where Dr. Hulme, a featured speaker, delivered a session on “AI and the Future of Business” as part of the Transformational Technologies track. ”I was so impressed with his vision and his unconventional thinking,” Javed says. This program, which features Javed’s conversation with Dr. Hulme, grew out of their meeting in Dubai.

In this conversation Oracle Community Manager Javed Mohammed speaks with three AI-ML experts.

Autonomous technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) are on the tip of every tongue in tech. But what is the difference between AI and ML? What are interesting use cases? What is “under the hood” of AI/ML and the algorithms that power ML models?

We have three Subject Matter Experts who share their insights into a fascinating and at times humorous conversation.

• Charlie Berger, Sr. Director of Product Management for Machine Learning, AI and Cognitive Analytics at Oracle.
• Heli Helskyaho, CEO Miracle Finland  Oracle ACE Director, Groundbreaker Ambassador. Author. Doctoral student, University of Helsinki. Also known as HeliFromFinland.
• Katharine Jarmul, Head of Product at Cape Privacy, she is a Privacy activist, AI dissenter, machine learning engineer. Author and teacher for O'Reilly.

Listen to learn about what makes AI and ML solutions powerful as well as the challenges we face from them. Charlie, Heli and Katharine explain some of the fundamentals about this revolutionary technology but also share personal stories which make for a memorable Podcast.

Read the complete show notes here.

Here are some photos, stories, and lessons I've collected over the years building Open Source software development communities at Sun Microsystems, Oracle, and on my own. I like taking photos and I like talking to developers — it's how I learn. So in this comprehensive commentary I talk about pretty much everything I've learned during the previous 15 years or so doing community development. Everything I've learned I still use today.

You can follow along with the photos below or view the video. I gave an earlier version of this talk at the All India Oracle User Group's (AIOUG) virtual OG Yatra in 2020, and I've talked about bits and pieces of the content in many other presentations. That's why I wanted to bring it all together into a single narrative centered around some specific images and stories. Hope it hangs together. 

Podcast Host: Jim Grisanzio, Oracle Developer Relations

https://twitter.com/jimgris
https://developer.oracle.com/team/ 

Photos

https://jimgrisanzio.files.wordpress.com/2021/07/grisanzio-community-stories.pdf

Video

https://youtu.be/nzo0PYv4tUM

Article

https://jimgrisanzio.wordpress.com/building-communities/

All India Oracle User Group OGYatra 2020 Slides

https://jimgrisanzio.files.wordpress.com/2020/06/2020-grisanzio-ogyatra.pdf

All India Oracle User Group OGYatra 2020 Video

https://youtu.be/gz7nMtWaUB0

Oracle Developer Relations Social

https://twitter.com/jimgris

https://twitter.com/groundbreakers

https://twitter.com/oracleace

https://twitter.com/oracleugs

https://developer.oracle.com/

Oracle Developer Live — Simplifying Modern App Dev
August 3 & 5 | Register Here

In this short preview I talk with Ophelia Hernandez about her upcoming DevOps session at Oracle Developer Live next week on automating continuous deployments to the cloud.

YouTube Video
https://youtu.be/tp6oEhRg-2Q 

Continuous Deployments: Automating Software Releases to OCI Platforms: This session will introduce OCI’s new DevOps platform that enables developers to automate software deployments to OCI platforms. With OCI DevOps, you can accelerate feature delivery to customers and gain the confidence to quickly recover from errors.

Ophelia Hernandez
https://twitter.com/ophyh
Director, Software Development, Cloud Native Services, Oracle Cloud Infrastructure: Ophelia Hernandez is a director of software development at Oracle. A passionate engineering leader excited about the future of the cloud and DevOps, she enjoys solving difficult technical problems, mentoring, guiding career development, and team building. With more than 10 years of experience leading teams, Ophelia has built high performing global teams from scratch and is always looking for ways to become a better leader. Outside of work, she enjoys her four dogs, two cats, and one daughter and is an avid boxer, hiker, and world traveler.

Jonathan Schreiber
https://twitter.com/jonschreiber
Senior Principal Product Manager, Cloud Native Services, Oracle Cloud Infrastructure: Jonathan Schreiber is a senior principal product manager for Oracle Cloud Infrastructure (OCI), working to empower developers on Oracle Cloud. During his time at Oracle, he contributed to the team that launched Cloud Shell, and now he is excited to bring the OCI continuous integration/continuous delivery (CI/CD) platform to developers. Prior to Oracle, Jonathan spent 10 years working in engineering and product management roles for San Francisco startups. His experience spans from ad tech at Federated Media to content marketing platforms at Chute. He started his career in the twilight of the dotcom era at TiVo, making websites with toothpicks and string

On demand sessions from all previous Oracle Developer Live conferences
https://developer.oracle.com/developer-live/

Oracle Developer Relations
https://developer.oracle.com/team/

#OracleDevLive on Twitter
https://twitter.com/hashtag/OracleDevLive

Podcast Host: Jim Grisanzio, Oracle Developer Relations
https://twitter.com/jimgris
https://developer.oracle.com/team/ 

Red Bull Racing Honda and Oracle Team up on a Series of Machine Learning HOLs — First Lab for Beginners on Wednesday August 11 at 8 AM PST

Jim Grisanzio and Chris Bensen from Oracle Developer Relations preview the first in a series of unique hands-on labs. Starting on August 11 at 8 AM PST developers will have the opportunity to team up with Red Bull Racing Honda and Oracle in a hands-on lab that uses race data to teach machine learning. Video. 

Register for the lab here! Same link for on demand!

Podcast Host: Jim Grisanzio, Oracle Developer Relations
https://twitter.com/jimgris
https://developer.oracle.com/team/ 

Venkat Subramaniam previews his upcoming session at Oracle Developer Live Java Innovations — The Elegance of Pattern Matching in Modern Java. The conversation was recorded via Zoom on Tuesday February 15, 2022.

Venkat Subramaniam, Founder, Agile Developer

@venkat_s on Twitter https://twitter.com/venkat_s

Background on Pattern Marching

JEP 305: Pattern Matching for instanceof (Preview)
Pattern Matching with Gavin Bierman — Inside Java Podcast 17
Pattern Matching in Java 17 and Beyond

Java Development & Community

OpenJDK https://openjdk.java.net/
Inside Java https://inside.java/
Dev.Java https://dev.java/
@java Twitter https://twitter.com/java

Duke's Corner Podcast

Jim Grisanzio, Host, Java Developer Relations
@jimgris on Twitter https://twitter.com/jimgris

Jim Grisanzio from Java Developer Relations talks with Josiah Davisson, a teacher from A-TECH (Advanced Technologies Academy) in Las Vegas, Nevada, about his experiences teaching Java to high school students. Josiah is passionate about learning technology himself and also teaching Java to his students so they are fully empowered to enter the software industry directly or go on to seek further computer science education in college. If you'd like to contact Josiah, ping him at Davisjm4@nv.ccsd.net. You can find Jim @jimgris on Twitter  or at jim.grisanzio@oracle.com

Jim Grisanzio from Java Developer Relations talks with Jeanne Boyarsky, a Java developer and Java Champion based in New York City. The conversation covers the evolution of Java, some of the core features of the language and platform, contributing to the Open Source community, and how developers learn and keep up with the technology. Jeanne knew she wanted to do something with computers when she first visited the computer museum  — at age five! Check out her story right here. She'll inspire you to focus and learn what you love.

Jeanne on Twitter: @jeanneboyarsky
Jim on Twitter: @jimgris 

International standards and the national legal framework on freedom of religion or belief were the focus of two consecutive training events organized jointly by the OSCE Office for Democratic Institution and Human Rights (ODIHR) and the Regional Office for Central Asia (ROCA) of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) from 25 to 28 July 2016 in Bishkek.

The training for 25 prosecutors and 31 defence lawyers from all regions of Kyrgyzstan was provided in close co-operation with the Training Centre for Prosecutors under the General Prosecutor’s Office of the Kyrgyz Republic and the Training Centre for Lawyers. The course covered a wide variety of topics directly relevant to the work of the participants, including recent developments in Kyrgyzstan.

Drawing on the guidance of national and international experts, participants discussed the nature of the right to freedom of religion or belief, its interrelatedness with other human rights and fundamental freedoms, the nature, extent and impact of violations of freedom of religion or belief, and the duties of the state to respect, protect and fulfil this universal human right. Participants also took part in mock trials on cases involving interference with freedom of religion or belief, such as through the banning of religious clothing and discrimination against religious organizations. 

“In using topical case studies, the participants were able to apply the knowledge they had acquired in a practical ‘courtroom’ environment and improve their legal skills in analysing freedom of religion or belief cases and advancing cogent and structured arguments,” said Mark Hill, one of the participating international experts and a senior barrister from the United Kingdom.

Dilnoza Satarova, Associate Officer on Freedom of Religion or Belief at ODIHR, said: “ODIHR welcomes co-operation with the Training Centre for Prosecutors of Kyrgyzstan and the Training Centre for Lawyers in organizing this course. Such capacity-building activities are key to advancing freedom of religion or belief for all, and ODIHR stands ready to support similar initiatives in Kyrgyzstan in the future.”

The two events are part of a series of training events for lawyers, prosecutors and judges on a variety of human rights-related issues conducted as part of the OHCHR project “Peace and Reconciliation through strengthening the rule of law and protection of human rights”, which is funded by the Peacebuilding Fund. 

Related Stories

• OSCE/ODIHR final report on early parliamentary elections in Serbia recommends comprehensive review of legislation and ensuring the level playing field for contestants
• OSCE workshop in Kosovo focuses on improving the recording of hate crimes
• OSCE/ODIHR Director Link welcomes Kyrgyzstan’s review of Askarov’s case, calls on Kyrgyz authorities to implement UN Human Rights Committee decision

JAJCE, 19 July 2016 – The recent decision of the Central Bosnian Canton Assembly to divide the secondary school in Jajce, despite court decisions and students’ protests, was the main focus of discussions held today by representatives of the international community in BiH, including the Office of the High Representative, the French Embassy and the USAID Mission Director, who joined the Head of the OSCE Mission to BiH, Ambassador Jonathan Moore, in meetings with Jajce municipal authorities and civil society. 

Ambassador Moore condemned the decision by the Cantonal Assembly to divide the students against their will. “The children of Bosnia and Herzegovina deserve the best conditions for inclusive, quality education.  The creation of yet another case of ‘two schools under one roof’ is a move in exactly the wrong direction, and is not the way to solve other questions such as questions of curriculum or educational certificates.  Practice has shown that administrative unification of divided schools improves conditions for learning and saves scarce resources.  The Canton cannot afford the schools it has now.  We should respect both principles of inclusion and the will of the students.  Local authorities in Jajce should withdraw their request, and cantonal authorities should not implement this mistaken decision,” said Ambassador Moore.

“The recent demonstrations we have seen show that children in Jajce do not want to be divided.  In this, they have our admiration and support. OHR joins the call for authorities of the Central Bosnia Canton to rethink the decision to form a new school in Jajce, and instead refocus their efforts to find solutions to problems in the education sector without endangering the multi-ethnic character of Jajce and the Central Bosnia Canton, “ said Michael Doyle, attending the visit on behalf of the High Representative Valentin Inzko.

“The unity and strength of France are mirrored in the existence of unified schools for all children. As friends of this country, we the French people want to see the same values and principles to be implemented in BiH. I would like to congratulate the Jajce students for their fight and collective spirit”, said Donato Guiliani, cultural counsellor of the French Embassy and director of the French Institute in BiH.

This is the third OSCE-organized visit of international community members to schools and communities in BiH.

Related Stories

• Political science students discuss youth participation in security policy development at OSCE-supported meeting in Bosnia and Herzegovina
• OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina facilitates visit to National Museum for children from Zepce and Maglaj
• Special Representative of OSCE Chairmanship-in-Office on Gender Issues Verveer to visit Bosnia and Herzegovina from 1 to 4 July

TBILISI, 2 July 2016 – Nearly 300 parliamentarians from 54 OSCE countries have begun debates on political and security affairs, economic and environmental issues and human rights and humanitarian concerns at the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly’s 25th Annual Session in Tbilisi.

The OSCE PA’s three general committees began working on resolutions Saturday dealing with topics including transnational terrorism, the crisis in and around Ukraine, protracted conflicts in Georgia, corruption, energy, climate change, migration and the rights of refugees.

Introducing the resolution to the Committee on Political Affairs and Security, Rapporteur Margareta Cederfelt (MP, Sweden) noted the importance of rebuilding trust and promoting stability in the OSCE region. “Since so many of our common challenges require real multilateral engagement, we as parliamentarians should work together in overcoming these challenges and work towards our mutual security,” she said.

Chaired by U.S. Senator Roger Wicker, the committee debated a number of issues related to the security situation in the OSCE area, with a particular focus on the threat of terrorism and resolving the Ukraine conflict through full implementation of the Minsk Agreements.

In the OSCE PA’s Committee on Economic Affairs, Science, Technology and Environment, chaired by Nilza Sena (MP, Portugal), Rapporteur Marietta Tidei (MP, Italy) highlighted the necessity of addressing climate change and other challenges in the economic and environmental dimension. She noted that 2016 marks not only the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly’s 25th anniversary, but also 25 years since the international community began addressing one of the most challenging environmental concerns of our time.

“In 1991, the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee held its first meeting to tackle what was already seen at that time as a serious challenge to humanity, the threat of climate change,” Tidei noted. She welcomed the adoption last year of the Paris Climate Agreement and urged its swift implementation by OSCE countries. Other issues touched on by the rapporteur and in the debate included food security, economic inequality and corruption.

The OSCE PA’s Committee on Democracy, Human Rights and Humanitarian Questions opened debate on Rapporteur Gordana Comic (MP, Portugal)’s report and draft resolution, introduced by Committee Chair Isabel Santos (MP, Portugal). The resolution urges a revitalization of the OSCE’s commitment to the human dimension of security at a time when a “crisis of leadership and ideas” is coinciding with a humanitarian emergency related to Europe’s refugee and migrant crisis.

Chaired by Ivana Dobesova (MP, Czech Republic), the committee debated issues including fundamental freedoms in Crimea and humanitarian concerns related to the migration crisis, including the special vulnerabilities of women and girls.

Santos noted that the report and draft resolution do not present a “magic solution” to the challenges of human rights in the OSCE area, but provides a basis for further co-operation. ‘“Together, we can achieve more, and one day we will achieve the solutions,” she said.

Committee meetings continue on 3 July with a number of amendments to consider. After the amendment process and their adoption by the committees, resolutions will be voted on by the full Assembly during the final day of the Annual Session on 5 July, for inclusion in the OSCE PA’s Tbilisi Declaration.

The committee meetings today follow a number of opening speeches Friday, including by Georgian Speaker of Parliament David Usupashvili, President Giorgi Margvelashvili, and Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili, as well as OSCE PA President Ilkka Kanerva (MP, Finland) and the OSCE’s Chairperson-in-Office, German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier.

Also on Friday, President Kanerva and Foreign Minister Steinmeier met for a bilateral meeting that focused on conflict resolution efforts in Ukraine. They discussed the crisis in and around Ukraine in detail, including the current Russian position on its level of engagement and prospects for implementing the Minsk Agreements.

For schedules, resolutions, live streaming during the event, daily news updates, press releases and other information, please visit www.oscepa.org. Selected photos are being posted on the PA’s Flickr page atwww.flickr.com/oscepa and on the Georgian Parliament’s Flickr page athttps://www.flickr.com/photos/geoparliament. Both the PA and the Georgian Parliament are tweeting using the hashtag #OSCEPATbilisi.

The OSCE Parliamentary Assembly is comprised of 323 parliamentarians from 57 countries spanning Europe, Central Asia and North America. The Assembly provides a forum for parliamentary diplomacy, monitors elections, and strengthens international co-operation to uphold commitments on political, security, economic, environmental and human rights issues.

Related Stories

• Christine Muttonen of Austria elected OSCE PA President, Vice-Presidents and Committee Officers also elected
• OSCE parliamentarians in Tbilisi adopt wide-ranging Declaration on human rights, security and the environment
• Assembly’s work on migration presented to OSCE ambassadors by Ad Hoc Committee Chair Lombardi at special Permanent Council

SLOVIANSK, Ukraine, 7 April 2016 – The OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Ukraine, at a ceremony in Sloviansk, Donetsk region today, presented representatives of the Infrastructure Ministry’s State Special Transport Service with 15 sets of protective equipment, including vests and helmets, which are to be delivered to local deminers working along transport routes in the east of the country.

The State Special Transport Service is responsible for ensuring the safety of the transport network and for restoring railways and bridges destroyed by hostilities. This often involves clearing mines and unexploded ordnance that threaten civilian transportation routes. 

“Safety of communications is extremely important in the context of sustainable post-conflict recovery, future peace and security in the region,” said Vaidotas Verba, the OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Ukraine. “I hope that with our help the Service will be in better position to swiftly and efficiently ensure safer conditions for the movement of people and goods in the conflict-affected areas.”

Since July 2014 the Service has cleared over 300 kilometres of railways in government-controlled areas of Donbas and disposed of more than 4,500 unexploded ordnance, mines and booby traps. This is among the more than 100,000 such dangerous items discovered and destroyed by all organizations working in the region, which are involved in dealing with these remnants of conflict.

To help Ukraine address this new challenge, the OSCE Project Co-ordinator is also training the country's humanitarian deminers on international mine action standards, helping to introduce a modern information management system to improve operations and the inter-agency co-ordination of efforts, and assisting in developing relevant legislation and standards.

Related Stories

• Spot Report by OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine (SMM):“DPR” members threaten SMM at gunpoint near Lukove
• OSCE-trained Ukrainian cyber-police officers begin fulfilling their mission
• OSCE Project Co-ordinator to assist Ukraine in strengthening democratic control of defence and security sectors

Tajikistan’s National Action Plan on implementing UN Security Council Resolution 1540, which was supported by the OSCE Office in Tajikistan as a way of enhancing the country’s chemical, biological, radiation and nuclear security, was presented to representatives of the international community in Dushanbe on 28 April 2016.

As well as bringing together representatives of international organizations dealing with non-proliferation issues, and embassies and diplomatic missions of the OSCE participating States and the UN members in Tajikistan, some 30 professionals in the area of chemical, biological, radiation and nuclear security in Tajikistan also attended the meeting. The discussion was held to mark the adoption of UN Security Council Resolution 1540 on 28 April 2004.

“As we have now already moved to the implementation phase of the Plan, I have no doubt that we all understand the importance of the need to provide resources that are indispensable for strengthening co-operation and collaboration in implementing the approved 1540 measures,” said Fabio Piana, Acting Head of the OSCE Office in Tajikistan. “Diplomatic missions of the OSCE participating States or UN Member States in Tajikistan are encouraged to take part in implementing Tajikistan’s National Action Plan, with the aim of ensuring the overall sustainability of our joint efforts.”

Ilkhom Mirsaidov, National co-ordinator on implementing the National Action Plan, thanked the OSCE for the assistance provided in developing the Plan – a process that took two years to accomplish. He also stressed the importance of multilateral co-operation and co-ordination of efforts during its implementation.

The National Action Plan, encompassing various implementation measures on nuclear, chemical, and biological security for 2016-2021, was adopted by Tajikistan’s Government on 9 February 2016.

The Office, in close co-operation with the OSCE Conflict Prevention Centre, United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs, and the 1540 Committee Group of Experts, will continue to assist the Government in the Plan’s practical implementation.

Related Stories

• OSCE Office in Tajikistan organizes first regional forum for promoting women’s political participation in Khujand
• OSCE Office in Tajikistan presents recommendations from the Customs Code Integrity Assessment
• OSCE Office in Tajikistan donates audio-visual material to enhance interactive teaching at Police Academy

VIENNA, 15 June 2016 – The twentieth anniversary of the Agreement on Sub-Regional Arms Control Agreement, which served as a framework for Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Montenegro and Serbia to engage with each other in order to promote peace and stability in the region, was marked today in Vienna.

Almir Sahovic, Assistant Minister for Multilateral Relations at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina, stressed that today was a good opportunity to reflect on the path the region went through in the last 20 years. “Our region was a synonym for problems and a source of instability. Our friends from the OSCE family and international community used to send military and police forces to help us sustain peace and stability. Today, we are the ones contributing with military and diplomatic missions to peace and stability around the world.”

The Agreement remains highly relevant for stability in the region as well as for the entire OSCE area and serves as a model for other OSCE regions.

“We see that the four State parties show mutual understanding, professionalism and confidence in their joint treaty activities,” said Chairperson of the OSCE Permanent Council and Permanent Representative of Germany to the OSCE Eberhard Pohl. “The Agreement continues to play a useful role in maintaining military stability in South Eastern Europe by promoting co-operation, transparency and predictability. Key to this is upholding the common political will for good development in the future. The members of the contact group stand ready to further support these activities.”

The Director of the OSCE Conflict Prevention Centre Marcel Pesko highlighted how the commitments from the Article IV of Dayton Peace Agreement became actions. “The four countries of the region proved they can establish a stable military balance, reducing the risk of a new escalation of the conflict. This would not be possible without courage and political will to move the process forward.”

The ceremony included a photo-exhibition dedicated to the process of implementation of the Agreement. Distinguished individuals and organizations from the region received special recognition for their contribution to the process.

Bosnia and Hercegovina is currently a Chair of Sub-Regional Consultative Commission in accordance with Article IV, Annex 1-B to the Dayton Agreement.

Learn more about the transfer of ownership of regional stability and how targets of arms control were achieved even beyond the set limits.

Related Stories

• Urgent steps needed towards full respect for ceasefire in eastern Ukraine, says OSCE Chairmanship Special Representative and Chief Monitor
• OSCE Chairperson-in-Office Steinmeier, in Moldova, calls for swift and full implementation of confidence-building measures
• OSCE Chairperson-in-Office Frank-Walter Steinmeier to visit Moldova on Tuesday