Portuguese Chairman-in-office reviews achievements
What do you think have been the highlights of Portugal's OSCE Chairmanship?
As expected of any Chairmanship, we have been devoting our best efforts to overseeing the efficient management of the OSCE and the smooth development of its many activities. The prevention of and the fight against terrorism have been assigned the highest priority during our Chairmanship, with activities aimed at implementing the Bucharest Plan of Action for Combating Terrorism.
Another focus has been on strengthening each of the three dimensions of the OSCE and improving the balance between them, in line with the mandate assigned to us in Bucharest. We have been devoting a great deal of effort to strengthening the economic and environmental dimension, both in the Secretariat and in the field.
The reform of the OSCE has been at the top of the Portuguese Chairmanship's agenda. This year, we saw some important progress: the Permanent Council endorsed decisions to improve the management of the budget, clarify the role of the Chairmanship, set rules for OSCE statements and revitalize public information activities.
What do you believe are the strengths of the OSCE?
Over the years, the OSCE has proved that it is a flexible, non-bureaucratic organization with the capacity to adapt smoothly to the evolving security environment. A noteworthy "added-value" feature of the OSCE is its broad membership, which spans the globe from Vancouver to Vladivostok. This makes the OSCE a unique regional political forum that is simultaneously transatlantic, pan-European and Eurasian.
Another outstanding attribute of the OSCE is its comprehensive approach to security, combining the politico-military, human and economic-environmental dimensions. Through this unusual concept, the OSCE has gained valuable and widely recognized expertise in building civic and democratic institutions.
Above all, the OSCE is an organization that makes it possible for governments and civil society to work in tandem. Non-governmental organizations play a pivotal role in bringing ordinary citizens closer to the work of the OSCE. I believe this is a major strength
What advice would you give to your successor ?
Over and above its operational tasks, the Chairmanship is expected to provide the OSCE with political guidance. This is a demanding task, one that serves as the driving force of the Organization's work through the development of concrete initiatives. Since the Chairman-in-Office needs to take into account the full spectrum of the participating States' views, transparency and an ongoing consultative process are essential.
One more thing: the incoming Dutch Chairman-in-Office should use the Netherlands' membership in the other main bodies of the transatlantic architecture to promote the Platform for Co-operative Security, which will help enhance the OSCE's visibility and importance.
What do you think about the role of OSCE field missions?
Much of the progress on the ground is the result of continuous day-to-day dialogue and follow-up work at the local level. This would simply not be possible without the presence of the OSCE in the field.
Firstly, we should change the popular perception that the presence of an OSCE mission is a stigma for the host country. Secondly, we should avoid the temptation to apply a standard mission model. Depending on the situation, a small mission may make more sense than a large one; there may be cases when a country's authorities simply need a few resident experts to provide day-to-day assistance.
For the full text of the interview, see the OSCE Newsletter (October/November 2002 issue)
As expected of any Chairmanship, we have been devoting our best efforts to overseeing the efficient management of the OSCE and the smooth development of its many activities. The prevention of and the fight against terrorism have been assigned the highest priority during our Chairmanship, with activities aimed at implementing the Bucharest Plan of Action for Combating Terrorism.
Another focus has been on strengthening each of the three dimensions of the OSCE and improving the balance between them, in line with the mandate assigned to us in Bucharest. We have been devoting a great deal of effort to strengthening the economic and environmental dimension, both in the Secretariat and in the field.
The reform of the OSCE has been at the top of the Portuguese Chairmanship's agenda. This year, we saw some important progress: the Permanent Council endorsed decisions to improve the management of the budget, clarify the role of the Chairmanship, set rules for OSCE statements and revitalize public information activities.
What do you believe are the strengths of the OSCE?
Over the years, the OSCE has proved that it is a flexible, non-bureaucratic organization with the capacity to adapt smoothly to the evolving security environment. A noteworthy "added-value" feature of the OSCE is its broad membership, which spans the globe from Vancouver to Vladivostok. This makes the OSCE a unique regional political forum that is simultaneously transatlantic, pan-European and Eurasian.
Another outstanding attribute of the OSCE is its comprehensive approach to security, combining the politico-military, human and economic-environmental dimensions. Through this unusual concept, the OSCE has gained valuable and widely recognized expertise in building civic and democratic institutions.
Above all, the OSCE is an organization that makes it possible for governments and civil society to work in tandem. Non-governmental organizations play a pivotal role in bringing ordinary citizens closer to the work of the OSCE. I believe this is a major strength
What advice would you give to your successor ?
Over and above its operational tasks, the Chairmanship is expected to provide the OSCE with political guidance. This is a demanding task, one that serves as the driving force of the Organization's work through the development of concrete initiatives. Since the Chairman-in-Office needs to take into account the full spectrum of the participating States' views, transparency and an ongoing consultative process are essential.
One more thing: the incoming Dutch Chairman-in-Office should use the Netherlands' membership in the other main bodies of the transatlantic architecture to promote the Platform for Co-operative Security, which will help enhance the OSCE's visibility and importance.
What do you think about the role of OSCE field missions?
Much of the progress on the ground is the result of continuous day-to-day dialogue and follow-up work at the local level. This would simply not be possible without the presence of the OSCE in the field.
Firstly, we should change the popular perception that the presence of an OSCE mission is a stigma for the host country. Secondly, we should avoid the temptation to apply a standard mission model. Depending on the situation, a small mission may make more sense than a large one; there may be cases when a country's authorities simply need a few resident experts to provide day-to-day assistance.
For the full text of the interview, see the OSCE Newsletter (October/November 2002 issue)