Peter Burkhard takes up duties as new head of OSCE Mission to Serbia

(Peter Burkhard)

Swiss career diplomat Ambassador Peter Burkhard assumed his duties as Head of the OSCE Mission to Serbia today.

- I look forward to working in partnership with the Government of Serbia and all local stakeholders as we fulfill the OSCE Mission’s mandate - said Ambassador Burkhard.

- The OSCE Mission to Serbia is committed to assisting the Serbian authorities and providing expertise in the fields of strengthening democratic institutions and the rule of law, protection of human rights, including the rights of persons belonging to national minorities, reform of law enforcement agencies, and media development - he added.

Ambassador Burkhard has in-depth knowledge of the OSCE, having served as Head of the OSCE Office in Baku, Azerbaijan (2002-2004) and as OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Ukraine (1999-2002). From 2004 to 2008 he was Ambassador of Switzerland to Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan with residence in Tashkent. Previously, he had assignments in Bonn (1989-93) and Moscow (1993-95), OSCE said in a release.

He was also part of the task force that managed and supported Switzerland’s 1996 OSCE Chairmanship-in-Office. He then directed the work of a governmental task force dealing with the range of issues related to Switzerland’s role during the Second World War.

Ambassador Burkhard has come to Belgrade from Cuba, where he served as Ambassador of Switzerland from 2009 until the present. He speaks all six OSCE official languages: German, French, Russian, English, Spanish and Italian. He was educated in science, including physical chemistry, modern languages, and Russian studies.