Spanish Foreign Minister calls on participating States to reaffirm their commitment to fundamental OSCE principles

VIENNA, 11 May 2015 – Growing interdependence arising from accelerating globalization and the increasingly transnational character of security threats confer a new role to regional organizations, said the Spanish Minister of Foreign Affairs and Co-operation José Manuel GarcÍa-Margallo in his address to the OSCE Permanent Council today. He added that Spain believes that the OSCE is a key instrument in consolidating peace and foster prosperity in the Euro-Atlantic, Euro-Asian and Euro-Mediterranean regions. 

He said that the crisis in and around Ukraine has opened a deep rift that has put in question the very foundations of our common security architecture. “We believe that the OSCE must now help redefine the European security architecture and re-establish trust,” said GarcÍa-Margallo. “Political dialogue can produce results only if there is conviction that the Helsinki Final Act principles are respected and compromises fulfilled. There are no exceptions to the respect of the rule of law and territorial integrity, the independence and sovereignty of States. Ukraine’s sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity must be respected.” “At the same time, we must think of the Russian Federation as a strategic ally and explore ways to normalize relations between Europe and Russia” he emphasized.

Referring to this year’s 40th anniversary of the Helsinki Final Act, a key founding document of what is now the OSCE, GarcÍa-Margallo said this is an opportunity to reflect on the role of the OSCE and to define the common challenges and threats we face.

GarcÍa-Margallo noted that some of the greatest threats that affect the OSCe región originate on the southern borders of our organization, stressing that Spain is fully conscious of this reality and therefore actively supports a climate of dialogue, understanding and cooperation with the countries of the souther Mediterranean shore.  “It is important that the OSCE includes migration and the fight against terrorism in its discussions since they are among the greatest threats of our time.”

GarcÍa-Margallo welcomed the heightened efforts of the OSCE in mediation, and called for strengthening the organization’s Human Dimension, stressing the strong link between security and respect of human rights, democracy and the rule of law.

“We can come out of this crisis stronger.  Security and prosperity are the result of unity, not division,” he concluded. “Confrontation and disunity weaken us.  All of us, as members of the OSCE are called upon to become true strategic allies in a dynamic world which demands co-operation in order to face multiple global threats.”