OSCE Chairman-in-Office addresses U.S. Congressional Commission
The OSCE Chairman-in-Office, Netherlands Foreign Minister Jaap de Hoop Scheffer. (OSCE/Alex Nitzsche) Photo details
WASHINGTON, 4 September 2003 - The OSCE Chairman-in-Office, Netherlands Foreign Minister Jaap de Hoop Scheffer, discussed terrorism, human rights and regional security issues in the OSCE area in an address to members of the United States Congress in Washington.
Speaking at a hearing by the Helsinki Commission on Wednesday, Minister de Hoop Scheffer outlined the Chairmanship's efforts to find a political solution to the Moldova/Transdniestria question.
"Our efforts are primarily aimed at reaching a political settlement between the two parties," he said. "To prepare for the post-settlement situation, the Chairmanship continues to work on a peace consolidation mission for Moldova. We are prepared to redouble our efforts over the next few months."
Minister de Hoop Scheffer, who discussed Moldova with the U.S. authorities during his three-day visit to Washington, said the continued commitment and assistance of the U.S. are crucial in bringing about progress in solving the conflict, as is the fulfillment by the Russian Federation of its commitments to transport weapons, ammunition and other military equipment back to its territory before the end of the year.
European Union participation in a multinational peacekeeping operation would be of key importance given Moldova's proximity to the expanding European Union, the OSCE Chairman-in-Office added.
The Minister said the 55-nation OSCE would continue to help combating terrorism with vigour, while striving to keep human rights high on the agenda. "In the last few years, we have come face to face with unprecedented challenges and threats to our security, the most obvious of which is terrorism", he said. "The fight against terrorism is - and should be - a top priority on our agenda."
He recalled that there were also other major threats in the international security landscape.
"Organized crime, trafficking and illegal migration are perhaps less visible and more surreptitious", he said. "The OSCE should also be concerned about undemocratic responses to these new threats, such as intolerance, xenophobia, anti-semitism or curtailment of democratic and human rights. Such responses pose a challenge to human security and undermine the open character of society".
The Minister also addressed other regional issues, including the situation in Georgia. "We intend to invest massively in the observation of the election process. The upcoming elections - to be conducted in a free and fair manner - are crucial for the future of Georgia".
On Central Asia, the Chairman-in-Office said this region needed extra attention from the OSCE because the social transformation that began after the collapse of the Soviet Union was threatening to stagnate. "The primary emphasis of the OSCE's involvement is on strengthening the rule of law and respect for human rights. But the authorities vary in their response to pleas for greater respect for human and democratic rights".
The CiO singled out human trafficking as one of the main priorities of the Netherlands chairmanship and outlined his proposal for the establishment of a Special Mechanism to strengthen the OSCE campaign against trafficking.
"The idea is that the person who will personify the Mechanism should encourage and assist OSCE countries to tackle trafficking, whether they are countries of origin, transit or destination. I also intend to make it possible to send out roving missions of experts to assist countries in the fight against trafficking and to call them to task if and when necessary."
The minister concluded by saying that he hoped the Maastricht Ministerial Council on 1 and 2 December would adopt a number of important strategy documents to help set the OSCE's future agenda.
"For our part, the Chairmanship would like to be judged by its success in leading this Organization into new, concrete forms of action", stated the OSCE Chairman.
Speaking at a hearing by the Helsinki Commission on Wednesday, Minister de Hoop Scheffer outlined the Chairmanship's efforts to find a political solution to the Moldova/Transdniestria question.
"Our efforts are primarily aimed at reaching a political settlement between the two parties," he said. "To prepare for the post-settlement situation, the Chairmanship continues to work on a peace consolidation mission for Moldova. We are prepared to redouble our efforts over the next few months."
Minister de Hoop Scheffer, who discussed Moldova with the U.S. authorities during his three-day visit to Washington, said the continued commitment and assistance of the U.S. are crucial in bringing about progress in solving the conflict, as is the fulfillment by the Russian Federation of its commitments to transport weapons, ammunition and other military equipment back to its territory before the end of the year.
European Union participation in a multinational peacekeeping operation would be of key importance given Moldova's proximity to the expanding European Union, the OSCE Chairman-in-Office added.
The Minister said the 55-nation OSCE would continue to help combating terrorism with vigour, while striving to keep human rights high on the agenda. "In the last few years, we have come face to face with unprecedented challenges and threats to our security, the most obvious of which is terrorism", he said. "The fight against terrorism is - and should be - a top priority on our agenda."
He recalled that there were also other major threats in the international security landscape.
"Organized crime, trafficking and illegal migration are perhaps less visible and more surreptitious", he said. "The OSCE should also be concerned about undemocratic responses to these new threats, such as intolerance, xenophobia, anti-semitism or curtailment of democratic and human rights. Such responses pose a challenge to human security and undermine the open character of society".
The Minister also addressed other regional issues, including the situation in Georgia. "We intend to invest massively in the observation of the election process. The upcoming elections - to be conducted in a free and fair manner - are crucial for the future of Georgia".
On Central Asia, the Chairman-in-Office said this region needed extra attention from the OSCE because the social transformation that began after the collapse of the Soviet Union was threatening to stagnate. "The primary emphasis of the OSCE's involvement is on strengthening the rule of law and respect for human rights. But the authorities vary in their response to pleas for greater respect for human and democratic rights".
The CiO singled out human trafficking as one of the main priorities of the Netherlands chairmanship and outlined his proposal for the establishment of a Special Mechanism to strengthen the OSCE campaign against trafficking.
"The idea is that the person who will personify the Mechanism should encourage and assist OSCE countries to tackle trafficking, whether they are countries of origin, transit or destination. I also intend to make it possible to send out roving missions of experts to assist countries in the fight against trafficking and to call them to task if and when necessary."
The minister concluded by saying that he hoped the Maastricht Ministerial Council on 1 and 2 December would adopt a number of important strategy documents to help set the OSCE's future agenda.
"For our part, the Chairmanship would like to be judged by its success in leading this Organization into new, concrete forms of action", stated the OSCE Chairman.