OSCE is best safeguard against new divisions between East and West, says new Swiss OSCE Chair

BERN, 1 January 2014 - Switzerland wants to make a tangible contribution to fostering security and stability, improving people’s lives and strengthening the OSCE’s capacity to act, new OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, Switzerland’s Foreign Minister Didier Burkhalter, said today, as Switzerland assumed the rotating Chairmanship of the Organization for 2014.

Highlighting the Swiss Chairmanship’s leitmotif ‘Create a Security Community for the Benefit of Everyone’, he stressed that the OSCE “is about common security delivered by all and for all – by all countries and for all countries, by all people and for all people” and added that the OSCE is “uniquely placed to connect the Euro-Atlantic and Eurasian area”.

Burkhalter said geographic priorities were the Western Balkans and South Caucasus and said he had appointed Special Representatives for each of the regions: Ambassador Gerhard Stoudmann for the Western Balkans and Ambassador Angelo Gnaedinger for the South Caucasus.  Ambassador Radojko Bogojević of Serbia will be the OSCE Chairperson’s Special Representative for the Transdniestrian Settlement Process during 2014, given the close co-ordination with the 2015 Serbian Chairmanship.

He added that Switzerland would aim to strengthen the potential of the Organization in areas such as preventing conflicts and mediating lasting solutions.

“In the Western Balkans, we wish to make reconciliation and regional co-operation a topic of discussion. In addition, the OSCE should play a supporting role in the implementation of the Belgrade-Pristina agreement. As for the South Caucasus, we will work with existing formats to support the search for a resolution to the protracted conflicts.”

 “Progress can only be made step by step, and for this reason we value bringing continuity to the Organization. I hope that the tools of the Swiss-Serbian consecutive chairmanship such as a joint work plan will become a model for future chairmanships,” he said.

The Swiss OSCE Chairmanship will work towards securing the full implementation of existing commitments in the Human Dimension; it will  concentrate on combating torture, respecting human rights, including minority rights, promoting democratic elections, and strengthening the rule of law in combating  terrorism. Work to combat transnational threats generally and natural disaster preparedness and response are also high on the agenda.  

Emphasizing the importance of interesting young people in the OSCE, Burkhalter said that 57 young people from 57 participating States have been enlisted to take part in a Model OSCE initiative starting in January 2014. “Not only will these young people learn how the OSCE works, but will also be tasked with drawing up a Youth Action plan, to generate new ideas on how to revitalize the OSCE.”

“Good politics is always at the service of the people. Switzerland will work closely with both civil society representatives and youth during its chairmanship,” he concluded.

The Minister will present Switzerland’s priorities to the OSCE Permanent Council in Vienna on 16 January. 

The latest news from the Swiss Chairmanship will be posted on Twitter at @SwissOSCE2014.