OSCE-Thailand conference focuses on challenges to security 'from poverty to pandemics'

BANGKOK, 25 April 2006 - OSCE, Thai and regional officials are focusing over the next two days on challenges to global security, at an international conference under the theme 'From Poverty to Pandemic'. Meeting for the third time in Bangkok since Thailand became active in the OSCE as a Partner for Co-operation in 2000, the annual OSCE conference in Asia is the highlight of the work between the Organization and its Asian Partners for Co-operation.

Jan Deboutte, Head of Multilateral Co-operation of the Belgian Foreign Ministry, in an opening speech delivered on behalf of the OSCE Chairman-in-Office, Belgian Foreign Minister Karel De Gucht, said that both poverty and pandemics were classical security threats in the OSCE's understanding: "They are of a trans-national character, they know no boundaries and, in true OSCE fashion, require a concerted and multi-disciplinary approach."

He said the threat of pandemics was also quickly rising to the top of the Organization's security agenda.

"The ease with which deadly diseases such as HIV/AIDS, SARS and Avian Influenza, as well as the H5N1 virus spread across the globe is frightening and calls for a concerted action from all of us to try to counter the risk of mass-scale contagion", he added.

"Poverty and pandemics are both old and new security threats," said the Chairmanship's representative. "This leads me to reinstating the need for an evolving dialogue on security matters. Security is not static, and we are forced to continuously adapt our doctrine and practice to meet ever new and rising challenges. The OSCE is in a constant process of doing just that. Throughout its history it has re-tooled itself and adapted to new situations."

In his address, OSCE Secretary General Marc Perrin de Brichambaut said that poverty and pandemics also had a bearing on a number of other related issues such as trafficking in human beings: "This is an issue OSCE has been addressing for the past decade, always expanding and examining its commitments to make sure that all aspects of this crime are being addressed. Most recently, OSCE elaborated an addendum to its Action Plan on Combating Trafficking in Human Beings to address the special needs of child victims of trafficking.

"Today's conference provides a much needed forum for discussing the important questions of poverty and pandemics. However, I believe it should also be a forum for touching on the important question of the future of our joint dialogue, especially with reference to possible co-operation at the regional and inter-regional level. In one way or the other, the security concerns of our Asian Partners have many points of contact with the security concerns of the OSCE participating States, especially in those regions where our borders meet."

The Secretary General reminded participants of his proposal to establish a Partnership Fund in the OSCE, to create the financial means for providing further assistance to Partner States that need to reap greater benefits from the OSCE experience and expertise.

"I am referring to Afghanistan, but also to Mongolia, both of whom have repeatedly expressed an interest in becoming involved in OSCE's expert programmes on police and border management and security, as well as election monitoring, capacity building and countering trafficking in human beings, drugs and weapons. I am confident that, once the Fund is established, I will be able to propose important and useful programmes that will be of benefit to the OSCE's Asian Partners, as well as its participating States," he said.

Former Chairman, Dr Dimitrij Rupel, Slovenia's Minister of Foreign Affairs, said that although the OSCE was neither a development nor a health organization, it can and should contribute through its own distinctive approach to reducing risks posed to our security by poverty and pandemics:

"Both are classic comprehensive security issues, touching on all three of the OSCE dimensions of security. Both require a systematic and multi-disciplinary approach. Both have dire consequences for our common security. And, both have been at the top of our agendas for longer than any of us would like."

The conference, which was also due to be addressed by Dr Kantathi Suphamongkhon, the Foreign Minister of Thailand, Dr Ir. Azmi Mat Akhir, Special Adviser to the Secretary Genral of the Association of South-East Asian nations, and Dr Helga Konrad, the Special Representative on Combating Trafficking in Human Beings, is set to end tomorrow 26 May.