OSCE remains an essential forum for dialogue, building trust and co-operation, says Italy’s Foreign Minister Moavero Milanesi to Permanent Council

VIENNA, 30 August 2018 – In his first address to the OSCE Permanent Council since his appointment as Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation on 1 June 2018, OSCE Chairperson-in-Office Enzo Moavero Milanesi reaffirmed the strong commitment of his Government to enhance the organization’s role as a forum for political dialogue.  

“The OSCE is an instrument of fundamental importance, particularly in this historic phase, which allows for channels of communication regarding major regional crises to remain open.”

Moavero Milanesi reaffirmed the determination of the 2018 Italian OSCE Chairmanship to rekindle the spirit of Helsinki, but also to promote a “new Helsinki” that offers an effective platform for constructive dialogue between East and West and contributes to a climate of trust and co-operation.

The Chairperson-in-Office stressed that while the old idea of security was based on the acquisition and ownership of information, modern security and the fight against today’s global challenges relies on a continuous exchange and sharing of information between states.

Referring to the main areas of focus of the Italian 2018 Chairmanship, Moavero Milanesi highlighted the importance of the Mediterranean dimension and the challenges stemming from migration flows.  “Working in partnership with others, our Organization has the potential to play an enhanced role in the development of global migration governance, by fostering close collaboration between the countries of origin, transit and destination, and by encouraging shared responsibility without any misgivings, without national caveats."

“The search for a sustainable solution to the crisis in and around Ukraine is among the main priorities of the Italian OSCE Chairmanship,” said the Chairperson. “The sides have to assume their responsibility, based on full respect of the ceasefire and on a relaunch of the political process within the Trilateral Contact Group and the Normandy format.”

Referring to protracted conflicts in the OSCE area, Moavero Milanesi expressed satisfaction that dialogue between Armenia and Azerbaijan was not discontinued as a result of recent elections in the two countries.  He also noted the recent progress in the Transdniestrian settlement process, namely the Rome Protocol, which reflects commitments by the sides to timelines and mechanisms to ensure the rapid finalization of outstanding issues from the “package of eight” priorities.

The Chairperson stressed the importance of co-operation to combat transnational threats such as terrorism, cybercrime, organized crime and trafficking in human beings. “We call these global challenges. But these are global scourges.  We must join forces and act together.  We will invest our efforts in all three dimensions of security, politico-military, economic and environmental as well as human – including the rule of law, democracy and respect for the fundamental rights of the individual.”

“Our OSCE Chairmanship is inspired by a positive and long-term vision that will enhance the Organization’s role, in which we firmly believe.  But, for this vision to be translated into concrete and successful action, it is essential that it is supported by the efforts of each of the 57 participating States to live up to our responsibility to reduce tensions through dialogue, by using all the tools of co-operative security that we share.”

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