Chairman-in-Office delivers first address to OSCE Permanent Council

VIENNA, 11 January 2001 - OSCE participating States must make a greater collective effort to respect individual human rights, to encourage access to prosperity, social justice and equal opportunity, and to open a path away from violence arising from ethnic hatred or organized crime. This was the message delivered by incoming OSCE Chairman-in-Office, Romanian Foreign Minister Mircea Dan Geoana, in his first address to the OSCE Permanent Council in Vienna today.

"We want to develop new ideas for strengthening political dialogue between OSCE States," Mr. Geoana said. "We want the OSCE to be known as the Organization, which produces concrete results, not only resolutions - results which could impact in a positive way on people's lives."

In his address to the permanent decision-making body, the Chairman-in-Office stressed areas in which the Organization will focus its attention during the coming year.

He noted that the Romanian Chairmanship wants to promote the security of the individual and develop more focussed activity in areas such as promoting open and tolerant societies and eliminating threats to the safety of citizens.

"We intend to focus attention on new problems and issues, such as trafficking in human beings, children in armed conflict, the integration of refugees and displaced persons," he said. "Later this year we will host a conference in Bucharest on Roma and Sinti issues. The objective will be to assess those programs and projects implemented during the last few years designed to eliminate discrimination and further integration of the Roma in their respective societies."

He noted that 2001 also marks the 10^th anniversary of OSCE's involvement in the electoral process through the OSCE Office of Democratic Institutions and Human Rights. He called on participating States to make maximum use of OSCE Institutions, including the Secretary General and his staff, the Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights, the High Commissioner on National Minorities, the Economic Co-ordinator, the Representative on Freedom of the Media, and Parliamentary Assembly.

"We must improve co-operation between the OSCE and other European and Euro-Atlantic institutions," he said. "We need to work in tandem with other organizations, and with the NGO community, valuable partners whose experience and views will be of enormous benefit to our work."

He said that under Romanian Chairmanship, conflict prevention, crisis management and post-conflict rehabilitation will continue to be priority areas for the OSCE. The Organization will also consider ways to strengthen its ability to address economic and environmental issues, and further refine tasks in areas such as good governance and transparency.

Following is an overview of priority areas within OSCE field regions:

South-Eastern Europe

The return of Yugoslavia to the OSCE family is a major breakthrough for democracy, providing a continuous space of security and stability in Southeast Europe. OSCE will assist by helping the country to rebuild society.

Work will continue in Kosovo to implement UN Security Council Resolution 1244.

OSCE will continue to help create the conditions for Bosnia and Herzegovina to assume responsibility for their national institutions.

Implementation will continue for Article II and IV of Annex 1-B of the Dayton /Paris Peace Accords, and successful negotiations on regional stability under Article V.

OSCE will continue to support Croatia's progress in meeting international commitments and achieving its goal of becoming a model for the region in terms of building democratic institutions respect for human rights and good neighbourliness.

Increased intra-regional co-operation is important for the consolidation of political and economic stability in the region. The Stability Pact remains a valuable instrument with its promotion of concrete projects designed to build solid democratic institutions and a durable prosperity.

Baltics and Eastern Europe

OSCE will increase efforts to achieve a political settlement in the Transdniestrian region of the Republic of Moldova. Portugal will be entrusted to handle the file on behalf of the Romanian Chairmanship.

OSCE should make a real contribution to the democratization in Belarus. All parties will be urged to commit to a meaningful dialogue, which will heal some existing internal divisions.

OSCE will press for the holding of free and democratic presidential elections in Belarus, and also discuss a framework for future co-operation.

OSCE will follow the developments of the Baltic States which have achieved progress and are engaged in fulfilling the criteria for integration into the European Union.

Caucasus

OSCE will continue to press for the withdrawl of foreign troops in Georgia, and also continue a step-by-step approach with regard to the situation in South Ossetia and Abkhazia.

The return of the OSCE Assistance Group in Chechnya is a priority, and the Group will have an important role to play in achieving a political solution to the Chechen conflict.

OSCE will find ways to stimulate the peace process in Nagorno-Karabakh and remain ready to support the implementation of a peace agreement.

Central Asia

OSCE will work with Central Asian states to identify areas of co-operation that will yield concrete and positive results, while meeting the objectives of the Platform for Co-operative Security. OSCE goals include enhancing the development of the rule of law, civil society and the rights of the individual; to promote economic prosperity and environmental security, and to explore the most appropriate ways to ensure security of borders.

More information on the OSCE Romanian Chairmanship 2001, as well as the complete text of this speech can be found on the Chairmanship website at /cio