Reinvigorating dialogue on European security is key to rebuild trust and defuse tensions agree German Minister of Defense and OSCE Secretary General
Vienna, 3 May 2016 – Changing the dynamics of the current debate on European security was essential to effectively tackling current security challenges agreed OSCE Secretary General Lamberto Zannier and German Defense Minister Ursula von der Leyen today.
The Minister met with the Secretary General as part of an official visit to Vienna.
The crisis in and around Ukraine, prospects for increasing dialogue and transparency in the military sector and addressing threats to cybersecurity were the main topics of their discussions.
German Minister of Defence von der Leyen said: “The OSCE makes an indispensable contribution to European security by advancing confidence building and dialogue among the participating States, and Germany has long been a staunch supporter of this important work. In its current OSCE Chairmanship capacity, Germany will keep up its efforts to strengthen the Organization’s capacities for enhancing co-operation in the OSCE area.”
Minister von der Leyen highlighted the role of the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission (SMM) to Ukraine – civilian and unarmed in its nature – which goes to great efforts to improve transparency in a very difficult and volatile environment: “Germany is committed to further assist the SMM in a targeted manner, for example through the efforts of the German Bundeswehr Verification Center, aimed at training SMM monitors in Kyiv in the recognition of arms systems.”
Secretary General Zannier thanked Minister von der Leyen for her support and the proactive approach of the German Chairmanship to the multiple and shared security challenges faced by OSCE participating States. “The OSCE continues to provide a space for inclusive dialogue, which today is more important than ever, particularly in the politico-military dimension. We are looking for ways to rebuild trust and confidence, which are essential to revitalizing a cooperative approach to security.”