Lugano to host OSCE foreign ministers on December 3 and 4

On December 3 and 4, Lugano will become a hub of international diplomacy for two days as it hosts the ministerial meeting of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE). Foreign ministers from more than fifty member states are expected, at the end of the year in which Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis held the chairmanship, bringing the conference to his home region. On Monday in Bellinzona, officials presented details of the event and the security measures planned for the city.

Cassis, Vice President of the Confederation for the OSCE this year, described the spirit of the meeting by citing a phrase that sums up the organization's mission: «Quando la diplomazia sembra impossibile, diventa indispensabile» (When diplomacy seems impossible, it becomes indispensable). No immediate breakthrough on the war in Ukraine is expected, but the meeting will try to gauge whether room for dialogue remains between Moscow, Kyiv and Western countries. For Cassis, the main political success would be bringing the conflicting parties back to the same table for direct talks rather than statements made from a distance, a step he considers necessary to move toward peace.

The Vice President confirmed that high-level delegations will attend, but it is not yet certain which of the most prominent figures will take part in person. Whether US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, and representatives of Ukraine and the European Union will attend remains to be confirmed, for security reasons. Cassis said that at least the deputy foreign ministers of the countries involved will be present.

The security plan

The security plan follows the model used for the 2022 conference on Ukraine: the Federal Council has authorized the deployment of up to 2,000 troops to support the cantonal police, and airspace around Lugano will be restricted from November 30 to December 4. Matteo Cocchi, commander of the cantonal police, explained that the meetings will take place between the Palazzo dei Congressi, Villa Ciani, the Asilo Ciani and some temporary structures set up in Parco Ciani. Two red zones with no access are planned, at Parco Ciani and the Palazzo dei Congressi, along with a blue zone around the park that remains accessible but subject to tighter controls.

According to Cocchi, the experience of the 2022 conference helped limit the impact on the city's daily life: in the blue zone, schools and businesses will operate as usual, and access to the Casino parking garage will remain guaranteed. Lugano's mayor, Michele Foletti, recalled that the goal from the earliest planning stages has been to keep disruption for residents to a minimum. Mobility restrictions will affect certain limited areas from 8:30 p.m. on December 2 to 8 p.m. on December 4. More information is available at www.ti.ch/osce.