Co-operative approach is important in addressing security challenges, says Deputy Foreign Minister Povejšil

The Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic for Security and Multilateral Affairs, Martin Povejšil presented the priorities of the Czech Chair of the OSCE Forum for Security Co-operation on 11 September 2019 in Vienna.

In his opening speech he stressed that the Czech Republic believes in sustainable peace, co-operative security and the rules-based-order, which can only be achieved by fully adhering to international law and the principles and commitments of the OSCE.

Povejšil also stated that regional co-operation as a way of building mutual confidence, modernization of Vienna Document, marking the 25th anniversary of the OSCE Code of Conduct on politico-Military Aspects of Security and promoting gender mainstreaming in the armed forces will be the focus of the Czech Chair of the OSCE Forum for Security Co-operation.

The Czech FSC Chairmanship will pay due attention to the Vienna Document. “A Security Dialogue dedicated to the issue can help to further discussions on implementing some aspects of the Vienna Document, which are relevant for its modernization,” the Deputy Foreign Minister said. “We sense a strong and growing support for progress which should materialize in upgrading of the Vienna Document 2011,” he noted.

Deputy Foreign Minister Povejšil underlined an undiminished relevance of the OSCE Code of Conduct on Politico-Military Aspects of Security, an important OSCE norm-setting document governing the democratic control of armed and security forces. A symposium “From Budapest to Budapest” to commemorate the 25^th anniversary of the OSCE Code of Conduct will be held in Hungary.

Referring to the need to promote transparency and regional co-operation he said: “Various concrete examples of co-operation and joint activities of the Czech Republic, Poland, Slovakia and Hungary, at both political and military level, represent a useful source of experience and lessons that could be beneficial for other OSCE participating States as well as OSCE Partners for Co-operation.”

Referring to a Security Dialogue devoted to UN Security Council Resolution 1325 on women, peace and security, Povejšil said that, continuing the practice established by previous FSC Chairs, the Czech Chair will continue to promote gender mainstreaming in the armed forces. “We will have the opportunity to hear from female and male officers about their experience of gender-related aspects in the very demanding environment of the armed forces.”

Deputy Minister Povejšil mentioned also the Structured Dialogue as valuable platform for debate on current politico-military topics directly pertinent for the FSC, that is why a joint session of the FSC and the Permanent Council on the Structured Dialogue will take place in October, in close coordination with the Slovak Chairmanship-in-Office and the Dutch Chair of the IWG on the Structured Dialogue.

He concluded by saying that that the Czech FSC Chair will “talk and listen to all” and will do its utmost to build consensus and deliver on its priorities. But, he added, this work depends on the will and support of all participating States.