German Foreign Minister stresses OSCE role in conflict prevention

VIENNA, 6 October 1999 -- The Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) is predestined, like no other European organization, to pioneer the "culture of prevention", German Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer told the Permanent Council today.

Mr. Fischer offered a number of constructive suggestions in his address to the OSCE Permanent Council. Issues such as the Stability Pact for South-Eastern Europe and the further development of military security agreements were brought to discussion. Fischer addressed the conflicts in Kosovo and Chechnya and identified areas where OSCE structures can play a role in peaceful conflict resolution.

The German Foreign Minister said that "safeguarding human rights and promoting democracy and the rule of law are at the heart of the 'culture of prevention'... Peace is only secured long-term when human rights are safeguarded, when minorities have an opportunity to contribute to shaping their country politically and when the people can democratically determine their country's policy."

Mr. Fischer said one purpose of his visit to the Permanent Council was to stimulate OSCE Participating States to reach an agreement on a Charter on European Security at the upcoming summit in Istanbul. This charter, he said, is of major significance for peace and security in Europe. He later stated the charter also can strengthen OSCE possibilities for enforcing human rights and the rights of minorities throughout the region.

Human rights have become an undisputed part of political structures in Europe, and are no longer the internal affair of sovereign states, according to Mr. Fischer.

Mr. Fischer, who was introduced to the Permanent Council as "the father of the Stability Pact," referred to the pact as a "preventive task par excellence." He also said "the Stability Pact for South-Eastern Europe is pursuing an even more ambitious strategy under the auspices of the OSCE - to integrate a whole region into European structures."

In the light of the present conflict in Chechnya, the Foreign Minister said that any solution to the conflict must address the roots of the problem. "Such a solution can only be reached through political dialogue with the moderate forces in Chechnya who are willing to talk, but not through an escalation of violence."

The Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe (CFE), first signed in 1990, is under review to adapt to the changing security environment in Europe. Mr. Fischer urged "all CFE States to concentrate their energies on successfully concluding negotiations on adapting the CFE treaty so that it can be signed in Istanbul." In this context, he also encouraged the further development of the Vienna Document, which is the main instrument of military confidence building in Europe. He encouraged coverage of new ground in "addressing the issues of paramilitary forces, improving crisis prevention mechanisms, and, above all, strengthening regional confidence building measures."

Referring to the specific issue of arms control in Bosnia, Mr. Fischer made the following statement: "Negotiations under the auspices of the OSCE on an agreement for regional stabilization pursuant to Article V of the Dayton Accord should be concluded by the second half of the year 2000." This reflects the continuing importance of the OSCE contribution to arms control in South-Eastern Europe.