OR Maria Telalian was elected to the position of Head of the Office of Democratic Institutions and Human Rights of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, as announced by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

As the Ministry of Foreign Affairs states in its announcement:

“Then after many months of systematic consultations, an agreement was reached among the 57 participating states of the OSCE for an election for three-year term of his organs.

The particularly critical position of Head of the Office of Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) is assumed by the distinguished jurist, Maria Telalian, for many years head of the Legal Service of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The ODIHR Office is an independent body that monitors elections in Member States, proposes changes in relevant legislation and makes recommendations to strengthen the protection of rights, to combat discrimination and to strengthening democratic institutions.

The unanimous election is a high-profile message symbolism and of particular political importance for strengthening the actions of the OSCE, which is the largest European security and cooperation organization and, in an extremely sensitive period for Europe and the world, is regaining momentum after the long-term impossibility of forming its bodies due to the lack of unanimity.

Greece, with a consistent and strong principled foreign policy, is expanding its international diplomatic capital even more.”