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Troika Ministers address pressing OSCE issues at Bucharest meeting
BUCHAREST 5 July 2000
BUCHAREST, 5 July 2000 - The Foreign Ministers of the OSCE Troika - Benita Ferrero-Waldner of Austria, Petre Roman of Romania, and Espen Barth Eide (State Secretary) of Norway met today in Bucharest to address issues of concern to the OSCE. The Secretary General of the OSCE, Jan Kubis, also took part in the meeting. Other participants included: the President of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly, Helle Degn, the OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities, Max van der Stoel, the Director of the Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights, Gerard Stoudmann, and the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Freimut Duve.
The Ministers expressed their deepest concern regarding the situation in Chechnya (Russian Federation). In their opinion the developments in the Republic prove that there cannot be military solution for the conflict and that political negotiations should be initiated to this effect. The Ministers underlined the readiness of the OSCE, and the Assistance Group to Chechnya in particular, to contribute to restoration of peace and stability in the Chechen Republic. Therefore, the Ministers voiced their regret that the return of the Assistance Group to Chechnya had so far not been possible. They called on the Russian Federation to create all the necessary perquisites for the re-deployment of the Group, including ensuring the security of the OSCE personnel. It was agreed that the Assistance Group after its return to Chechnya should be clearly identifiable as an independent and impartial actor. The Ministers also underlined that the activities of the Assistance Group should be based on its mandate adopted in 1995 and re-confirmed by the Istanbul Summit, and that any attempt to restrict or reinterpret the tasks of the Group was unacceptable. They stressed the need for the political settlement of this conflict and the involvement of the OSCE in the process.
The Ministerial Troika voiced its concern regarding the decision by the Russian authorities to deny the Russian journalist, Andrei Babitsky, travel documents that would have allowed him to personally receive the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly's Prize for Journalism and Democracy 2000 in Bucharest. The Ministerial Troika urges the Russian Government to allow Mr. Babitsky to travel freely. The Troika took notice with concern of reports from Russia of several incidents against independent media, including the raid on the premises of Media-Most and the temporary detention of its major shareholder Vladimir Gusinsky.
The Ministers agreed that the main challenge for South Eastern Europe will be the set of elections scheduled for autumn, notably in the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Albania, Kosovo and Bosnia Herzegovina. This will demand a close co-ordination of all the international institutions involved to ensure the required assistance and monitoring. It will also require the support of OSCE participating States in mobilizing personnel and resources for election monitoring.
The Ministers expressed their concern about continued violence and crime in Kosovo, which is also directed at the international community. The Ministers remind all Kosovars of the commitment the international community has made and continues to make to bring peace and normality to all the people of Kosovo, in accordance with the provisions of the UNSCR 1244. The Ministers are pleased with the progress made in the civil registration process. More than 800,000 Kosovars have registered up to now. The Ministers regret Belgrade's non-co-operation with the registration and election process, but welcome the Gracanica Serb National Council's decision to return to Kosovo's Joint Administrative structures as observers. The Ministers urge the entire Kosovo Serb community and other communities to register rapidly in light of the 15 July deadline and to take part in the elections.
On Georgia, the Ministers expressed their expectations regarding the progress in the resolution of the South Ossetian conflict. In particular, they underlined their view that a possible experts meeting in Vienna could bring about further co-operation between Tbilisi and Tskhinvali. However, the Ministers voiced their concern regarding the lack of considerable progress in resolving the Georgian-Abkhazian conflict. In this context, they reiterated the OSCE's commitment and recalled its readiness to engage the OSCE in the human rights situation in the Gali region and to dispatch a joint OSCE/UN a fact-finding mission to especially look into the conditions for IDPs return to Gali. The Ministers noted the successful functioning of the OSCE monitoring operation along the border between Georgia and the Chechen Republic of the Russian Federation. This recently expanded operation of the Mission to Georgia has already contributed to the stabilisation of the situation in the region. The Ministers expressed their hope that the upcoming reinforced meeting of the Permanent Council on Georgia would result in further strengthening of the Organisation's activities in this country.
The Ministers were concerned that only a few months ahead of the parliamentary elections in Belarus and in spite of the assistance and advice provided by the OSCE Assistance and Monitoring Group (AMG) and the Parliamentary Troika, no significant progress could be registered. The Ministers emphasized the necessity to take concrete steps, which include: a democratic electoral code to ensure transparency of the electoral process; access of the opposition to the state-run mass media; meaningful functions of the newly-elected Parliament and adoption of confidence-building measures. Participation of Belarus democratic forces in the elections and international observation of the electoral process depends on taking those steps. The Ministers expressed the hope that the limited time available until the elections could be used to achieve such progress and encouraged the government of Belarus to intensify efforts in this regard. They reiterated their strong support for the work of the AMG.
The Ministers welcomed the fact that the concerns of Central Asia States have been significantly elevated on the OSCE agenda. These include threats to stability and security like terrorism, drug trafficking, and organized crime and threats stemming from neighbouring countries, notably the unresolved situation in Afghanistan. In this context, they were encouraged that all five CA States actively support the UN ODCCP/OSCE CiO International Conference on Countering Drugs, Organized Crime and Terrorism in Central Asia, which will be held in October in Tashkent. They expressed their conviction that security is multi-dimensional and encourage further OSCE activities to promote this approach. Progress in political and economic reforms, democratization, as well as respect for human rights are essential parts of comprehensive security and are key elements to ensure long-term stability.
Regarding the overall situation in Moldova, the OSCE Troika expressed its concern about the lack of progress in the withdrawal process of Russian arms and ammunition from the territory of the Republic. They urged the parties to undertake immediate action to speed up the withdrawal process, in particular with regard to the implementation of the relevant decisions of the Istanbul Summit Meeting on the deadline for the completion of the removal of all Russian arms and ammunition from the country. They stressed that the question of status for Transdniestria (Republic of Moldova) should not be linked to the withdrawal process. The OSCE Troika expressed its appreciation for the OSCE Mission to Moldova for its active role in promoting the over all settlement process. They regret that until now no solution could be found in the case of the Ilascu Group.
The Ministers expressed their grave concern over the growing problem of trafficking in human beings in the OSCE area. They agreed to make the fight against trafficking a fully integrated part of the work of the OSCE, both at the political level and at its many missions and field operations. They welcomed the efforts of the OSCE's Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights to identify measures to combat trafficking as well as the appointment by the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office of the former Austrian Minister of Women's Affairs, Helga Konrad, as the OSCE Regional Trafficking Co-ordinator for South Eastern Europe.
The Ministers expressed their satisfaction with the adoption by the Permanent Council of the Decision on the Strengthening of OSCE Operational Capacities, which institutionally creates Rapid Experts Assistance and Co-operation Teams (REACT), an Operations Centre and approve the reorganization of the Secretariat. These measures, in conformity with the Istanbul Summit directive, will enable a more rapid deployment to the field of civilian and police expertise as a part of an integrated mission staffing system and improve planning for OSCE Missions and their deployment in co-operation with other international organizations. They request the Secretary General to take the necessary steps to make the decision fully operational in the shortest possible time.
For further information contact the Press and Public Information Section of the OSCE Secretariat, tel.: (+ 43-1) 514 36 180 or e-mail: info@osce.org
The Ministers expressed their deepest concern regarding the situation in Chechnya (Russian Federation). In their opinion the developments in the Republic prove that there cannot be military solution for the conflict and that political negotiations should be initiated to this effect. The Ministers underlined the readiness of the OSCE, and the Assistance Group to Chechnya in particular, to contribute to restoration of peace and stability in the Chechen Republic. Therefore, the Ministers voiced their regret that the return of the Assistance Group to Chechnya had so far not been possible. They called on the Russian Federation to create all the necessary perquisites for the re-deployment of the Group, including ensuring the security of the OSCE personnel. It was agreed that the Assistance Group after its return to Chechnya should be clearly identifiable as an independent and impartial actor. The Ministers also underlined that the activities of the Assistance Group should be based on its mandate adopted in 1995 and re-confirmed by the Istanbul Summit, and that any attempt to restrict or reinterpret the tasks of the Group was unacceptable. They stressed the need for the political settlement of this conflict and the involvement of the OSCE in the process.
The Ministerial Troika voiced its concern regarding the decision by the Russian authorities to deny the Russian journalist, Andrei Babitsky, travel documents that would have allowed him to personally receive the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly's Prize for Journalism and Democracy 2000 in Bucharest. The Ministerial Troika urges the Russian Government to allow Mr. Babitsky to travel freely. The Troika took notice with concern of reports from Russia of several incidents against independent media, including the raid on the premises of Media-Most and the temporary detention of its major shareholder Vladimir Gusinsky.
The Ministers agreed that the main challenge for South Eastern Europe will be the set of elections scheduled for autumn, notably in the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Albania, Kosovo and Bosnia Herzegovina. This will demand a close co-ordination of all the international institutions involved to ensure the required assistance and monitoring. It will also require the support of OSCE participating States in mobilizing personnel and resources for election monitoring.
The Ministers expressed their concern about continued violence and crime in Kosovo, which is also directed at the international community. The Ministers remind all Kosovars of the commitment the international community has made and continues to make to bring peace and normality to all the people of Kosovo, in accordance with the provisions of the UNSCR 1244. The Ministers are pleased with the progress made in the civil registration process. More than 800,000 Kosovars have registered up to now. The Ministers regret Belgrade's non-co-operation with the registration and election process, but welcome the Gracanica Serb National Council's decision to return to Kosovo's Joint Administrative structures as observers. The Ministers urge the entire Kosovo Serb community and other communities to register rapidly in light of the 15 July deadline and to take part in the elections.
On Georgia, the Ministers expressed their expectations regarding the progress in the resolution of the South Ossetian conflict. In particular, they underlined their view that a possible experts meeting in Vienna could bring about further co-operation between Tbilisi and Tskhinvali. However, the Ministers voiced their concern regarding the lack of considerable progress in resolving the Georgian-Abkhazian conflict. In this context, they reiterated the OSCE's commitment and recalled its readiness to engage the OSCE in the human rights situation in the Gali region and to dispatch a joint OSCE/UN a fact-finding mission to especially look into the conditions for IDPs return to Gali. The Ministers noted the successful functioning of the OSCE monitoring operation along the border between Georgia and the Chechen Republic of the Russian Federation. This recently expanded operation of the Mission to Georgia has already contributed to the stabilisation of the situation in the region. The Ministers expressed their hope that the upcoming reinforced meeting of the Permanent Council on Georgia would result in further strengthening of the Organisation's activities in this country.
The Ministers were concerned that only a few months ahead of the parliamentary elections in Belarus and in spite of the assistance and advice provided by the OSCE Assistance and Monitoring Group (AMG) and the Parliamentary Troika, no significant progress could be registered. The Ministers emphasized the necessity to take concrete steps, which include: a democratic electoral code to ensure transparency of the electoral process; access of the opposition to the state-run mass media; meaningful functions of the newly-elected Parliament and adoption of confidence-building measures. Participation of Belarus democratic forces in the elections and international observation of the electoral process depends on taking those steps. The Ministers expressed the hope that the limited time available until the elections could be used to achieve such progress and encouraged the government of Belarus to intensify efforts in this regard. They reiterated their strong support for the work of the AMG.
The Ministers welcomed the fact that the concerns of Central Asia States have been significantly elevated on the OSCE agenda. These include threats to stability and security like terrorism, drug trafficking, and organized crime and threats stemming from neighbouring countries, notably the unresolved situation in Afghanistan. In this context, they were encouraged that all five CA States actively support the UN ODCCP/OSCE CiO International Conference on Countering Drugs, Organized Crime and Terrorism in Central Asia, which will be held in October in Tashkent. They expressed their conviction that security is multi-dimensional and encourage further OSCE activities to promote this approach. Progress in political and economic reforms, democratization, as well as respect for human rights are essential parts of comprehensive security and are key elements to ensure long-term stability.
Regarding the overall situation in Moldova, the OSCE Troika expressed its concern about the lack of progress in the withdrawal process of Russian arms and ammunition from the territory of the Republic. They urged the parties to undertake immediate action to speed up the withdrawal process, in particular with regard to the implementation of the relevant decisions of the Istanbul Summit Meeting on the deadline for the completion of the removal of all Russian arms and ammunition from the country. They stressed that the question of status for Transdniestria (Republic of Moldova) should not be linked to the withdrawal process. The OSCE Troika expressed its appreciation for the OSCE Mission to Moldova for its active role in promoting the over all settlement process. They regret that until now no solution could be found in the case of the Ilascu Group.
The Ministers expressed their grave concern over the growing problem of trafficking in human beings in the OSCE area. They agreed to make the fight against trafficking a fully integrated part of the work of the OSCE, both at the political level and at its many missions and field operations. They welcomed the efforts of the OSCE's Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights to identify measures to combat trafficking as well as the appointment by the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office of the former Austrian Minister of Women's Affairs, Helga Konrad, as the OSCE Regional Trafficking Co-ordinator for South Eastern Europe.
The Ministers expressed their satisfaction with the adoption by the Permanent Council of the Decision on the Strengthening of OSCE Operational Capacities, which institutionally creates Rapid Experts Assistance and Co-operation Teams (REACT), an Operations Centre and approve the reorganization of the Secretariat. These measures, in conformity with the Istanbul Summit directive, will enable a more rapid deployment to the field of civilian and police expertise as a part of an integrated mission staffing system and improve planning for OSCE Missions and their deployment in co-operation with other international organizations. They request the Secretary General to take the necessary steps to make the decision fully operational in the shortest possible time.
For further information contact the Press and Public Information Section of the OSCE Secretariat, tel.: (+ 43-1) 514 36 180 or e-mail: info@osce.org