CIS Executive Secretary says co-operation must be strengthened in building security community, addressing transnational threats, observing elections

VIENNA, 27 June 2013 - The Executive Secretary of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) Sergey Lebedev, in his address to the OSCE Permanent Council today, highlighted the need to step up co-operation between international organizations in building a security community, addressing transnational threats, including in the context of “Afghanistan post-2014”, and observing elections.

All 11 Commonwealth countries are OSCE participating States. Lebedev emphasized that the priorities formulated by Ukraine as the OSCE Chairmanship 2013 are “in accordance with the aspirations of the CIS states”. 

He reviewed the developments in the Commonwealth since the last address to the Permanent Council in 2010, focusing on the progress in the economic integration, humanitarian co-operation matters and joint initiatives to commemorate the victory in the World War II.

Speaking about election observation in the CIS countries, Lebedev said the contacts between CIS and OSCE institutions were useful for exchanging opinions and ensure more objective assessment. “However, the need to develop single approach to monitoring elections, as well as single election standards, is quite evident,” he stressed, adding that the CIS experience would be useful for this.

Lebedev outlined the need for collective action of states and international organizations in ensuring and maintaining peace. “Taking into account the ‘post-2014’ factor, Afghanistan agenda is becoming increasingly urgent and significant for ensuring regional and global security,” he said. Strengthening borders of Central Asian states with Afghanistan, enhancing efficiency of anti-terrorist, anti-drug, law enforcement and customs structures, as well as close co-ordination of activities between international organizations, under the leading role of the UN, is required to combat the threats emanating from the territory of Afghanistan, Lebedev stressed.

Contemporary challenges and threats are evolving fast, Lebedev said, stressing that crime and terrorism are actively expanding into new areas, including the cyberspace.

Lebedev stressed the need to shape Euro-Atlantic and Eurasian security community. CIS States support the ‘Helsinki+40’ process launched to strengthen the OSCE, ensure security – through the compliance of all participating States with the principle of indivisible security, and promote further co-operation, he said.

The Permanent Council is a main decision-making body of the 57-country OSCE. It meets weekly in Vienna to discuss developments in the OSCE area and to make appropriate decisions.