OSCE Chairman believes time ripe for transforming Organization to meet changed political realities
(OSCE/Alex Nitzsche)The OSCE Chairman-in-Office, Bulgarian Foreign Minister Solomon Passy, at the opening of the Annual Security Review Conference, 23 June 2004. (OSCE/Alex Nitzsche) Photo details
VIENNA, 9 August 2004 - In a letter sent at the start of the OSCE's traditional summer break, the Chairman-in-Office, Bulgaria's Foreign Minister Solomon Passy, has signalled his intention to try and push through various reforms, in order to better equip the Organization for facing the challenges of the contemporary world. The CiO believes this is needed today, 30 years after the Helsinki Final Act.
Writing to the Foreign Ministers of the other 54 States in Europe's largest regional security body, the Chairman-in Office said he had seriously analysed the "Declaration", adopted on 3 July by nine of the 12 Heads of State of the Commonwealth of Independent States.
Minister Passy welcomed the high level of interest in the work of the OSCE that this document reflected and felt that it deserved further exchange of views on the issues that were raised by the Heads of State, including discussion of how the OSCE functions.
The Chairman shared the wish for a better thematic as well as geographical balance within the OSCE and recalled his earlier pledge to continue to work for this. These efforts had shown results already in improved abilities among States to oppose terrorism and improve border security.
However, the core of the OSCE's acquis or foundation agreements, including respect for basic human rights and freedoms, should remain untouched.
Minister Passy indicated he would also welcome discussing with the States of Central Asia and the Caucasus how they could benefit from OSCE's invigorated activities, and also hoped to see greater involvement by the CIS States in steering the bodies of the OSCE, including the Chairmanship.
Among the possible measures for transforming the Organization the CiO has proposed the future relocation of meetings of the Economic Forum to Central Asia and the Human Dimension Implementation Meeting to South Caucasus as a means of a practical economic support and encouragement of the positive developments in the subregions.
The CiO expressed his conviction that now the Organization needs stronger political leadership with a new enhanced role for both the Secretary General and the CiO, as well as stronger involvement of the Parliamentary Assembly of the OSCE.
Writing to the Foreign Ministers of the other 54 States in Europe's largest regional security body, the Chairman-in Office said he had seriously analysed the "Declaration", adopted on 3 July by nine of the 12 Heads of State of the Commonwealth of Independent States.
Minister Passy welcomed the high level of interest in the work of the OSCE that this document reflected and felt that it deserved further exchange of views on the issues that were raised by the Heads of State, including discussion of how the OSCE functions.
The Chairman shared the wish for a better thematic as well as geographical balance within the OSCE and recalled his earlier pledge to continue to work for this. These efforts had shown results already in improved abilities among States to oppose terrorism and improve border security.
However, the core of the OSCE's acquis or foundation agreements, including respect for basic human rights and freedoms, should remain untouched.
Minister Passy indicated he would also welcome discussing with the States of Central Asia and the Caucasus how they could benefit from OSCE's invigorated activities, and also hoped to see greater involvement by the CIS States in steering the bodies of the OSCE, including the Chairmanship.
Among the possible measures for transforming the Organization the CiO has proposed the future relocation of meetings of the Economic Forum to Central Asia and the Human Dimension Implementation Meeting to South Caucasus as a means of a practical economic support and encouragement of the positive developments in the subregions.
The CiO expressed his conviction that now the Organization needs stronger political leadership with a new enhanced role for both the Secretary General and the CiO, as well as stronger involvement of the Parliamentary Assembly of the OSCE.