OSCE Secretary General hosts meeting to promote co-ordinated response to developments in southern Mediterranean

VILNIUS, 6 December 2011 – A meeting of international and regional organizations to promote closer co-ordination of responses to changes in the southern Mediterranean was held by OSCE Secretary General Lamberto Zannier and UN Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs B. Lynn Pascoe in Vilnius today.

The meeting, which took place on the margins of the OSCE Ministerial Council, brought together representatives of the League of Arab States and the Organization for Islamic Co-operation with counterparts from the EU, NATO, the Council of Europe, the Collective Security Treaty Organization and the Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia, as well as the OSCE and the UN.

“Throughout this year, as we have seen dramatic changes unfold in North Africa and the Middle East, the UN Secretary-General has encouraged greater co-operation among regional organizations in responding to those changes and reaching out to the states and societies of the region. I fully support that initiative,” said Zannier.

“The OSCE has accumulated a wealth of experience in supporting the development of democracy in its own participating States. Some of the areas where we have developed tools and expertise, such as elections, media freedom, democratic policing and good governance, to name a few, could be particularly relevant to transition processes across the Southern Mediterranean.”

Pascoe said: “Since the inception of the uprisings in the Middle East and North Africa region, the work of the UN has been two-fold – direct engagement with regional leaders and transitional authorities as well as co-ordinating international assistance and action, both on the ground and in the decision-making processes. Thus, today’s event is propitious and timely.”

He urged the meeting participants to identify possible contributions of each organization and consider options for inter-organizational sharing of expertise and practices.

The meeting also highlighted the importance of local ownership of any initiatives. Zannier, citing the OSCE’s experience, emphasized the need to avoid a “one size fits all” approach in providing support. 

Ambassador Mikhael Wehbe, representing the League of Arab States, said: “The League of Arab States and the OSCE have a responsibility towards the changes that are happening in the Arab region. The 'Arab Spring' has aroused hope in a more free, democratic and peaceful world. We have to pay respect to the demands of the Arab people and support their aspirations.”