OSCE Chairperson, addressing UN Security Council, urges co-operation on transnational threats, good governance

NEW YORK, 9 February 2012 – Tackling transnational threats and fighting corruption are key areas for OSCE and UN co-operation, said the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, Irish Deputy Prime Minister Eamon Gilmore, today at the UN Security Council in New York.

Outlining the priorities for his country’s year-long Chairmanship of the 56-State organization, he said: “A shared challenge for our two organizations is to ensure close and effective co-operation to tackle complex transnational threats. One key area of shared interest is counter-terrorism.”

He added that another core theme of the Irish Chairmanship would be the promotion of security and stability through good governance: “We firmly believe that weak governance undermines economic development and exposes states to greater security risks. Here too, we see great potential for building on the existing co-operation with the UN in this field.”

“During our Chairmanship, we will focus in particular on measures to counter corruption, money-laundering and terrorist financing. We will also consider the issue of confiscation of the proceeds of criminal activity. In this regard, we intend to highlight the work of Ireland’s Criminal Assets Bureau as a model for other participating States to consider.”

A further priority area for the Irish Chairmanship will be Internet freedom, according to the Chairperson.  “Freedom of expression is at the heart of the entire human rights system, and the Internet has become a vital tool for communications, allowing individuals to exercise this fundamental right, and facilitating the exercise of other related rights such as freedom of the media, freedom of association and freedom of peaceful assembly.  Our focus will be on ensuring that the Internet remains an open and free forum.”

Other priority issues in the human dimension include freedom of religion or belief, action to combat racism, intolerance and discrimination in sport, as well as efforts to combat trafficking in human beings.

The Chairperson emphasized Ireland’s pragmatic approach towards achieving progress on protracted conflicts, building on its experience in Northern Ireland. In this context he welcomed the ongoing joint UN, EU and OSCE efforts following the August 2008 conflict in Georgia.

He also reaffirmed the OSCE’s commitment to strengthening support to Afghanistan on a range of issues, in close co-operation with the UN and other international actors in the region.