News

President Efthymiou,
Speaker of the Serbian National Assembly Prof. Dr. Slavica Djukic-Dejanovic,
Secretary General Zannier,
Fellow Parliamentarians,

  It is again my pleasure to join you to discuss the work of the Chairmanship.  The theme of this year’s annual Parliamentary Assembly session is ‘Strengthening the OSCE’s Effectiveness and Efficiency – a new start after the Astana Summit.” 

Your goal complements those of the Chairmanship.

Astana has given a new impulse to promote the OSCE’s work.  Our Chairmanship has built consistently on the basic commitments underlying the Astana Declaration.  In addition, the Chairmanship has energetically pursued specific, achievable goals, so that we could say that to organization’s efficiency and effectiveness we have added a third “e” -- energy.  

This year Lithuania is hosting the European Basketball Championships.   We in the Chairmanship have taken a leaf from the Lithuanian play book, and have been employing “a full court press,” over the past six months, from one end of the OSCE region to the other.  We intend to continue this active approach through the balance of the Chairmanship year.

Since we last met in Vienna in February I, as Chairman-in-Office, have travelled to some twenty five destinations, in East and West, in Central Asia, in the southern Caucuses as well as South Eastern Europe, and North Africa to one of our Partner States.  In that connection I have participated in well over one hundred political meetings and public appearances. 

Dear Colleagues,

Some of our challenges have involved dramatic events, calling for rapid response.  Others, which have taken the greater part of our time and effort, have been more drawn out and not always in the headlines.  They have required careful, reflective negotiations and consensus building. 

In May we celebrated the 10th anniversary of the OSCE Mission in Serbia.  On that occasion we marked numerous achievements, which were based on ten years of joint planning, the development of effective programs and projects which have built democratic institutions and strengthened a healthy civil society

The most important success, however, is reflected in the progress made in resolving ethnic and national disputes. Just twenty years ago these caused terrible conflicts, death and destruction in this region.  I salute President Tadic, and President Josipovic of Croatia, and the other forward looking leaders in both of these once warring countries. You have courageously reached out to each other and bridged the gap between the crisis of war and the positive hopes for the future. 

We can all be proud of the role the OSCE has actively played in helping bring about these developments.  This is the best example of OSCE effectiveness.

It has also taken courage to continue to pursue those who are accused of war crimes such as Ratko Mladic, and to meet the difficult commitment to bring them before the bar of justice. This step has contributed enormously to building trust with and respect from your neighbors and partners, and has contributed significantly to regional stability.  

Fellow Parliamentarians, Colleagues, Ladies and Gentlemen,

  We regularly speak of the need for regional cooperation, both here in South East Europe and elsewhere in the OSCE area.  The beginnings of regional cooperation start not on the ground, but in our own heads and in our own hearts.  When leaders can demonstrate political will and courage, reach out to each other and cooperate, then building regional cooperation and progress becomes a possibility.   

  Without being too optimistic, this is the type of political courage I hope may yet emerge as regards the protracted conflicts in Moldova, Nagorno-Karabakh and the Southern Caucuses. 

  During the first six months of this year the chairmanship’s efforts involving these prolonged conflicts have continued virtually non-stop. The Chair has worked closely with the Minsk Group and through my Special Representative Giedrius Čekuolis.    I personally have visited all of the countries and met with the leaders involved in these prolonged conflicts.

 I applaud President Medvedev’s efforts with the Presidents of Azerbaijan and Armenia at Kazan June 24 to establish a framework for peace in Nogorno-Karabakh. I regret – as I am sure all of you do as well – that the hoped for break-through has not been achieved.  We will continue our efforts, including specific confidence building measures to reduce tensions along the contact line.

We all had high expectations for the resumption of the official negotiations on the Transnistrian settlement in the 5+2 format. The Meseberg initiative launched by Russian President Medvedev and German Chancellor Merkel offered real chances for a breakthrough. My colleague Minister Lavrov convened the 5+2 meeting on 21 June. He hoped that Moscow could be the venue for the restart of the negotiations. This did not happen.  So I call upon all concerned to consolidate efforts and make sincere efforts resolve this problem.  If this is done I am convinced that the Transnistrian problem has the best chance for a solution among the protracted conflicts. 

The Geneva talks move slowly, but efforts at Confidence Building Measures are contributing positive results.  Communication must continue.

As far as the situation in Belarus is concerned, you know the Chairmanship has reached out in any number of ways. I regret that the Belarus leadership continues to shut itself off.  I will note we were able to obtain agreement for ODIHR monitors to attend and observe the trials of protestors. 

As you are aware, on June 16 the OSCE Moscow Mechanism report was presented to the Permanent Council, describing the findings about the human rights situation and offers recommendations concerning the implementation of OSCE commitments.

You have also placed the issue of Belarus on your agenda and will be discussing it at this Parliamentary Assembly session. 

We will not give up.  With your active help I hope we will find a way to re-establish a path to communication and renewed cooperation within the OSCE family.    

Activities in Central Asia

Throughout the first six months of the Chairmanship we have worked closely with the governments in Central Asia to support their efforts to counter the transnational threats emanating out of Afghanistan.  The interest of the governments is great.  There is a growing awareness of the importance of bi-lateral and regional cooperation in fighting the effects of corruption, the threats posed by international criminals, terrorists, and those who traffic everything from narcotics to human beings.

  As I repeatedly and consistently stated to all my discussion partners during my trips in the region, and as it was clear from our conference on the safety of journalists, there is both a desire and a need to do more to improve media freedom and legal protection in the region.  That remains a goal high on our list. 

Partner States

In May and June the Chairmanship and representatives of ODIHR visited three Partner States in North Africa: Tunisia, Egypt and Morocco, at their invitations. In our meetings we explored ways the OSCE can offer expertise and experience to support democratic changes taking place in those countries.  We are still in the early stages of these dialogues, but stand ready to support these partners, in coordination with the EU and UN, as appropriate.  

I can see a positive role for members of the Parliamentary Assembly to play here.  Who could better help the partner countries develop a multi-party political democracy than the representatives of our own party systems? 

Colleagues, members of the OSCE family,

Senior staff selection

I am pleased that we have completed the appointment of senior staff in Vienna.

  It is a particular pleasure to announce agreement on our new Secretary General, Ambassador Lamberto Zannier, who assumed office on 1 July and is with us here today.  The selection process and building consensus requires patience, diligence and day to day consultations with Ministers and their representatives in Vienna.  Some lessons may be drawn from our experience:  first, the interests of the Organization and its effective functioning should be a major objective.   And second, sticking to clear deadlines allows us to move the process forward and creates imperatives on the participating States to take decisions. 

  Consensus is often difficult to reach.  As Chairman it is my responsibility to guide, but not dictate the selection process.  We have a new SG who is experienced in multilateral diplomacy, knows the OSCE from the inside, and has displayed proven leadership skills. 

Lamberto, it is our good fortune to be able to welcome you back to the OSCE family.  

Vilnius Ministerial

Today the Chairmanship has reached ‘half time.’  Working together the entire organization, from the Chairman-in-Office down to individual field operations and offices, has done a great deal of preparation work.  The goals that we set before the opening whistle remain the same.  Realistically we have the time to achieve the targets we have set for ourselves at the Vilnius Ministerial.

• In making progress resolving protracted conflicts;
• Ensuring greater compliance with obligations in the sphere of media freedom and journalists’ safety;
• Combating  transnational threats and challenges, not just emanating from Afghanistan, but throughout our OSCE region;
• Strengthening the OSCE’s role in the dialogue on energy security;
• Building tolerance and fighting discrimination through education;
• And finally, building bridges among ourselves, and restoring confidence within our own “OSCE family” through the promotion of respect and tolerance and by fulfilling in practical terms the commitments we reaffirmed at Astana.