OSCE Chairman sees room for improvement in Organization but no need for drastic overhaul

WASHINGTON, 28 June 2006 - There is room to improve the efficiency of the OSCE but no need to alter the nature of the Organization profoundly or tamper with the delicate balance of power in the 56-nation group, the OSCE Chairman-in-Office, Belgian Foreign Minister Karel De Gucht, told the Helsinki Commission today.

The Helsinki Commission, formally known as the Commission on Security and Co-operation in Europe, is an independent agency of the U.S. Government responsible for monitoring and encouraging compliance with the Helsinki Final Act and other commitments of the OSCE's participating States.

Briefing the Commission in Washington's Rayburn House Office Building, Minister De Gucht said it was a good moment for a mid-term review of Belgium's stewardship of the Organization. He said much work remained to be done in the run-up to December's Ministerial Council in Brussels, and the Chairmanship was committed to keeping the reform roadmap agreed last December in Ljubljana on track.

"As Chairman-in-Office, I believe there is undoubtedly room for improving the efficiency of the Organization," said Minister De Gucht. "However, I doubt there is reason to profoundly alter the nature of the Organization or to tamper with the delicate balance of power within the Organization itself."

The Chairman-in-Office said the participating States' commitments under the Helsinki Act were the Organization's bedrock

On fighting organized crime, a Belgian Chairmanship priority, Minister De Gucht said the OSCE had a proven track record working in this area, including programmes to train police and judges, but it would not rest there.

"We hope we can bring more coherence between the numerous OSCE-activities in the field, and give more substance and backbone to these activities," he said.