OSCE Review Conference discusses ways to adapt OSCE economic and environmental dimension to new challenges, ensure sustainable development and growth

VIENNA, 19 October 2010 - The importance of economic and environmental fields in the times of crisis, strengthening co-operation, and addressing cross-dimensional challenges to enhance security in the OSCE region are among the themes for discussion which started today in Vienna as a part of a Review Conference ahead of the OSCE Summit in Astana.

Yerbolat Sembayev, Deputy Head of the OSCE Task Force, representing the 2010 Kazakhstan's Chairmanship of the OSCE, stressed the importance of reviewing what has been achieved by the participating States in the economic and environmental dimension.

"It is vital that we review the implementation of the commitments we have undertaken in this area, from the Bonn Document to the Maastricht Strategy Document," he said. "We must look at how to strengthen our joint work in areas like energy security, migration, sustainable development and transport security, which has been the theme of this year's Economic and Environmental Forum, and at how economic and environmental issues have an impact on other areas of the OSCE's work."

Sembayev referred to the correlation between such areas as fighting corruption and good governance; combating money laundering and terrorist financing. Only by working jointly is it possible to effectively counter new challenges, including transnational ones, he said.

Goran Svilanovic, Co-ordinator of OSCE Economic and Environmental Activities, emphasized the importance of a cross-dimensional response to new threats. "The economic and environmental dimension has always been an integral part of the OSCE's comprehensive and co-operative approach to security," he said.

"In times of a global economic crisis, more than ever, co-operation between international and regional organizations, as well as non-governmental structures and the business community is of high importance for prosperity and stability in the OSCE region. The review of commitments by the participating States and identifying ways forward to strengthen the economic and environmental activities of the OSCE is particularly timely and relevant."

The second segment of a three-part Review Conference formally opened in Vienna yesterday and will last until 26 October. It focuses on economic and environmental, as well as political and military dimensions of the OSCE's work.

Economic aspects of the OSCE work to be discussed at the Review Conference include strengthening good governance through promoting transparency, combating corruption, money laundering and the financing of terrorism; transport and energy security; migration; ensuring sustainable development and economic growth through promoting technological innovation and modernization, as well as fostering social development.

Capacity-building for environmental governance; protecting the environment; sustainable use and management of natural resources and preventing pollution, land degradation, ecological risks, natural and man-made disasters will be the topics of the environmental cluster of the event.

The conference results will contribute to discussions at the OSCE Summit to take place in Astana on 1-2 December.