Statement by Mr. Harri Tiido, Deputy Under-Secretary of the Estonian Foreign Ministry at the 10th Meeting of the OSCE Ministerial Council
Porto, December 6-7, 2002
The year 2002 has been a significant one and significant in the positive sense of the word. Important enlargement decisions taken or yet anticipated before the end of this year are about to change the political landscape. The enlargement of the EU and NATO does not represent a mere fulfillment of dreams and aspirations of a group of countries. It means common responsibility, expanded to a larger number of States, common action and common values.
All these changes are not irrelevant to the OSCE. Firstly, the OSCE, alongside with other international actors, can take pride in having contributed to the expansion of the area of democracy and the rule of law. Secondly, the OSCE would urgently have to engage in a reflection over its future focus, the tasks and challenges ahead. This year’s Ministerial Council Meeting will set a framework for this reflection and provide an agenda for next year’s work.
Some items on this agenda.
We need to look closer into the issue of tolerance and non-discrimination, especially keeping in mind how relevant questions of religious tolerance and respect for diversity have become over the past year. The OSCE is well suited to promote multicultural, interethnic and inter-religious dialogue, to address the question of prejudices and misrepresentation.
The OSCE can also be instrumental in the fight against trafficking in human beings. This form of transnational crime affects us all - countries of origin, transit and destination. Sadly enough, in some instances, even persons working for international organizations have been involved in it. Only concerted action can help to fight this crime.
Police-related activities are one of the areas that require further OSCE attention. We are pleased to see the OSCE promptly responding to the increasing number of requests from the countries of Central Asia, Caucasus and South- Eastern Europe for police-related assistance. Estonia stands ready to consider its national contribution to specific projects.Some challenges ahead of us are not new and require continued attention. We cannot overlook the fact that a number of unresolved conflicts continue to affect peace and stability in the OSCE area. None of these conflicts that have been lingering for too long by now, show clear perspectives of being resolved in the nearest future.
Continuous violence and the lack of basic human security create a breeding ground for terrorists, thus a peaceful solution in places like Chechnya is part of preventing terrorism. Combating terrorism without trying to prevent it would be futile. That is one of the issues that the OSCE should relentlessly pay attention to and we are glad that this is stressed in the OSCE Charter on Preventing and Combating Terrorism. It remains to be hoped that this Charter will be cherished as much as previous documents that bear the name of a charter like the Charter of Paris and the 1999 Istanbul Charter for European Security.
Speaking about concerns one cannot fail to notice that in some countries the human rights and media situation has been steadily deteriorating over the past year, e.g. Belarus.
The OSCE needs a genuine dialogue between participating States, in the spirit of openness and respect. We do hope that discussions over an OSCE strategy to address threats to security and stability in the twenty-first century will create a new momentum for the OSCE in the changing world. We trust that the establishment of the OSCE Annual Security Review Conference will provide a functioning framework for an open discussion of various security concerns.
However, for us the way ahead starts from the groundwork laid by previous decisions and earlier commitments taken by participating States. Continuity is and will remain a crucial element of the credibility of the organization. I would like to remind that the notions of credibility and commitment are closely linked. If a nation takes a commitment in the framework of an international organization, honouring of this commitment would affect not only the credibility of this nation, but also the credibility of the whole organization. That is why the organization has every right to demand that its members respect their commitments.
Let me also say some words about arms control and confidence- and security-building measures. Estonia welcomes the first year of successful implementation of the Treaty on Open Skies. Estonia intends to accede to the Treaty in the nearest future. I would also like to reiterate Estonia’s intention to join the adapted CFE Treaty once the Treaty will be open for accession. We hope for an early entry into force of the Adapted Treaty. In this respect, Estonia supports the call of the NATO Prague Summit for a swift fulfillment of the outstanding Istanbul commitments on Georgia and Moldova, which will create the conditions for States Parties to the Treaty to move forward on ratification of the Adapted CFE Treaty. We strongly believe that no nation can feel fully sovereign with an undesired foreign military presence on its soil.
Finally, I would like to thank this year’s Chairmanship-in-Office Portugal and wish the Netherlands all success in chairing this organization in 2003.
The year 2002 has been a significant one and significant in the positive sense of the word. Important enlargement decisions taken or yet anticipated before the end of this year are about to change the political landscape. The enlargement of the EU and NATO does not represent a mere fulfillment of dreams and aspirations of a group of countries. It means common responsibility, expanded to a larger number of States, common action and common values.
All these changes are not irrelevant to the OSCE. Firstly, the OSCE, alongside with other international actors, can take pride in having contributed to the expansion of the area of democracy and the rule of law. Secondly, the OSCE would urgently have to engage in a reflection over its future focus, the tasks and challenges ahead. This year’s Ministerial Council Meeting will set a framework for this reflection and provide an agenda for next year’s work.
Some items on this agenda.
We need to look closer into the issue of tolerance and non-discrimination, especially keeping in mind how relevant questions of religious tolerance and respect for diversity have become over the past year. The OSCE is well suited to promote multicultural, interethnic and inter-religious dialogue, to address the question of prejudices and misrepresentation.
The OSCE can also be instrumental in the fight against trafficking in human beings. This form of transnational crime affects us all - countries of origin, transit and destination. Sadly enough, in some instances, even persons working for international organizations have been involved in it. Only concerted action can help to fight this crime.
Police-related activities are one of the areas that require further OSCE attention. We are pleased to see the OSCE promptly responding to the increasing number of requests from the countries of Central Asia, Caucasus and South- Eastern Europe for police-related assistance. Estonia stands ready to consider its national contribution to specific projects.Some challenges ahead of us are not new and require continued attention. We cannot overlook the fact that a number of unresolved conflicts continue to affect peace and stability in the OSCE area. None of these conflicts that have been lingering for too long by now, show clear perspectives of being resolved in the nearest future.
Continuous violence and the lack of basic human security create a breeding ground for terrorists, thus a peaceful solution in places like Chechnya is part of preventing terrorism. Combating terrorism without trying to prevent it would be futile. That is one of the issues that the OSCE should relentlessly pay attention to and we are glad that this is stressed in the OSCE Charter on Preventing and Combating Terrorism. It remains to be hoped that this Charter will be cherished as much as previous documents that bear the name of a charter like the Charter of Paris and the 1999 Istanbul Charter for European Security.
Speaking about concerns one cannot fail to notice that in some countries the human rights and media situation has been steadily deteriorating over the past year, e.g. Belarus.
The OSCE needs a genuine dialogue between participating States, in the spirit of openness and respect. We do hope that discussions over an OSCE strategy to address threats to security and stability in the twenty-first century will create a new momentum for the OSCE in the changing world. We trust that the establishment of the OSCE Annual Security Review Conference will provide a functioning framework for an open discussion of various security concerns.
However, for us the way ahead starts from the groundwork laid by previous decisions and earlier commitments taken by participating States. Continuity is and will remain a crucial element of the credibility of the organization. I would like to remind that the notions of credibility and commitment are closely linked. If a nation takes a commitment in the framework of an international organization, honouring of this commitment would affect not only the credibility of this nation, but also the credibility of the whole organization. That is why the organization has every right to demand that its members respect their commitments.
Let me also say some words about arms control and confidence- and security-building measures. Estonia welcomes the first year of successful implementation of the Treaty on Open Skies. Estonia intends to accede to the Treaty in the nearest future. I would also like to reiterate Estonia’s intention to join the adapted CFE Treaty once the Treaty will be open for accession. We hope for an early entry into force of the Adapted Treaty. In this respect, Estonia supports the call of the NATO Prague Summit for a swift fulfillment of the outstanding Istanbul commitments on Georgia and Moldova, which will create the conditions for States Parties to the Treaty to move forward on ratification of the Adapted CFE Treaty. We strongly believe that no nation can feel fully sovereign with an undesired foreign military presence on its soil.
Finally, I would like to thank this year’s Chairmanship-in-Office Portugal and wish the Netherlands all success in chairing this organization in 2003.
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