OSCE and Council of Europe hold high-level meeting in Bucharest

BUCHAREST, 11 April 2001 - Key issues of mutual concern were the focus of the annual 2+2 meeting between high-level officials from the Organization of Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) and the Council of Europe, held in Bucharest on Wednesday.

The OSCE Chairman-in-Office, Romanian Foreign Minister Mircea Geoana, and the Chairman of the Council of Europe Committee of Ministers, Latvian Foreign Minister Indulis Berzins, as well as the Secretaries General of both Organisations, Ambassador Jan Kubis and Walter Sschwimmer. Subsequently, the meeting was enlarged to a "3 + 3" format, through the participation of the Presidents of the respective Parliamentary Assemblies, Adrian Severin and Lord Russell-Johnston.

The participants focused on topical issues of concern to the OSCE and the Council of Europe. They included the current situations in the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (Serbia, Montenegro and Kosovo), Bosnia and Herzegovina, Albania, Republic of Moldova, Ukraine, Belarus, the Chechen Republic (Russian Federation) and in Georgia. The co-operation between the two organizations in different fields was also discussed.

The evolution of the situation in South-Eastern Europe was discussed by participants in depth. They expressed their concern over an alarming increase in violence in "the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia," in Kosovo and Southern Serbia. The OSCE Chairman-in-Office informed about concrete steps aimed at easing tensions in that area, including through an active consultation with other international organizations regarding the specific contributions they may make. There are important elections ahead: in Montenegro, in Albania, and, at the appropriate time, in Kosovo. The participants confirmed that these will have an impact on the whole region and need to be well prepared and organized.

The Council of Europe informed on the application for the membership of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia to the Council of Europe. All participants underlined their full support for the efforts of this country to become a truly democratic European State. The joint action undertaken by the OSCE and the Council of Europe to this end is symbolized by the co-location under the same roof of the two respective Missions in Belgrade.

The participants also expressed the hope that present parliamentary and governmental majority in Bosnia and Herzegovina will speed up the process of democratic transition and accelerate the country's accession to the Council of Europe.

Regarding Chechnya, the representatives of both organizations expressed their strong opinion that the Chechen conflict can be solved only through political dialogue. They expressed their dissatisfaction with the fact that the OSCE Assistance Group has not been able to return to Chechnya so far. They expect that the Assistance Group will be able to start activities in Chechnya soon. They informed on the activities of the Council of Europe experts in the Office of the Special Representative of the President of the Russian Federation for Human Rights in the Chechen Republic, as well as the recent visit by the OSCE Assistance Group to Chechnya and its planned activities. Particular attention must be given to the security problems related to the deployment of staff in the region. They confirmed their commitment to co-operation, complementary action and mutual support. The participants also welcomed the recent meeting of the Joint Working Group on Chechnya of Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe and the Russian State Duma.

With regard to Georgia, the OSCE has continued to reinvigorate the negotiation process on the resolution of the South Ossetian conflict. The OSCE Chairman-in-Office expressed his hope that progress would positively influence the process of the resolution of the conflict in Abkhazia.

The prospects for positive developments in Nagorno-Karabakh were also discussed, and the participants welcomed as a sign of progress the recent Key West round of consultations.

On the situation in the Eastern part of the Republic of Moldova, which remains "frozen", the participants expressed their regret that the issue of withdrawal of Russian troops and equipment has not registered significant progress. They expressed their concern with regard to the continuous deterioration of the economic and social situation in the country. During the discussions it was agreed that while the OSCE should take the lead in matters pertaining to a political settlement of the situation in the Eastern part of this country. The Council of Europe is considering further assistance to the Republic of Moldova including by the "Venice Commission" (democracy through law). The Council of Europe recently signed with the European Commission a joint support programme for judicial reform, democratic institution building and civil society.

With regard to recent developments in Ukraine, the participants expressed concern as well as their willingness to give support to reforms aiming at respect for human rights and, in particular, freedom of the media.

The participants expressed concern with respect to the further deterioration of the political climate in Belarus. They urged the government to encourage the development of a strong civil society and fulfil the necessary conditions for free and fair presidential elections as called for by the Parliamentary Troika (OSCE, Council of Europe, European Parliament). They also called on the Belarusian government to withdraw Decree No. 8 of 12 March 2001.

Given their complementary roles, both Organizations are committed to maintaining a maximum level of co-operation on issues of common concern. The participants emphasized the importance they attach to concrete co-operation between the two organizations with the aim of contributing to building a Europe without dividing lines, where rule of law, democracy and human rights are fully respected. Building upon the long-lasting co-operation between the two organizations, the participants reiterated that it acquires growing importance in a world becoming ever more interdependent and hence raising questions which can not be effectively addressed by one organization alone.



Referring to the Common Catalogue of Co-operation Modalities, the participants underlined that the work of the two organizations in the areas of common interest should continue to be guided by the principles of complementarity and mutual reinforcement. It is only by developing their procedures and mechanisms while respecting their mandates and preserving their specificity as well as by making use of their comparative advantages that both organizations can efficiently assist countries to fulfil international commitments, consolidate democratic institutions and ensure protection of human rights, including for persons belonging to national minorities.

It was finally stressed that the participation of the Presidents of the Parliamentary Assemblies of both organizations demonstrated the important contribution which a "trilateral approach" could bring to identifying adequate solutions to the common challenges facing Europe today.