Parliamentary Secretary Oliphant to attend the Ministerial Council meeting of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe and travel to Bulgaria

November 29, 2023 – Ottawa, Ontario – Global Affairs Canada

The Honourable Mélanie Joly, Minister of Foreign Affairs, today announced that Robert Oliphant, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, will represent Canada at the 30th meeting of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) Ministerial Council in North Macedonia. The Parliamentary Secretary will then travel to Bulgaria to meet with senior officials.

Parliamentary Secretary Oliphant will attend the OSCE Ministerial Council meeting in Skopje, North Macedonia, on November 29 and 30, to address the council on Canada’s continued commitment to the OSCE, reiterate support for Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, and call on Russia to uphold its commitments and obligations under international law. Canada values the OSCE’s important work to promote fundamental freedoms, media freedom and gender equality in an increasingly challenging global political and security environment.

The OSCE is an important venue to promote key issues in the politico-military sphere. Since the 2014 invasion of Crimea, discussions at the OSCE, including at weekly meetings of the Canada-chaired Forum for Security Co-operation, have been invaluable for holding Russia to account for its aggression and crimes against Ukraine.

On December 1, Parliamentary Secretary Oliphant will visit Bulgaria, where he will meet with Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Mariya Gabriel and other senior officials to highlight the positive Canada-Bulgaria relationship and to discuss security in the Black Sea region, in Europe and globally.

During his trip, Parliamentary Secretary Oliphant will also meet with international partners to discuss cooperation on key global and regional security issues amid Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine.