Interview with Sebastian Kurz, Austrian Federal Minister for Europe, Integration and Foreign Affairs, OSCE Chairperson-in-Office for 2017

What are Austria’s priorities for its 2017 Chairmanship?

The Austrian Chairmanship intends to put an emphasis on three of the main security challenges currently facing Europe, namely: a further escalation of violent conflicts; an increasing threat to internal security through radicalization, especially of young people; and an increasing loss of trust between states, but also of citizens in state institutions and the organizations that are meant to secure peace and our values.

These are, of course, significant challenges, which will not be resolved overnight. Nevertheless, during our Chairmanship we will focus on making best use of the Organization to strengthen comprehensive and co-operative security, as well as security within its 57 participating States, and to begin rebuilding trust and confidence in the OSCE area. We firmly believe that the OSCE can play a pivotal role in addressing and resolving these challenges. Our approach will be based on an enhancement of dialogue – critical, but constructive dialogue among governments, experts and civil society actors to discuss perceptions and develop common solutions.

You have stated that countering radicalization is an important theme for you – what initiatives would you like to see in this direction?

Violent extremism and radicalization, particularly of young persons, is an increasing threat to our security. We know that over 10,000 people from the OSCE area have joined the so-called Islamic State as foreign terrorist fighters to rape, kill and try to annihilate religious minorities in Syria, Iraq and Libya. Military success against these barbaric terrorists could entail a higher number of terrorist returnees and an increased level of threat in the midst of our societies.

Given this scenario we must work together to identify and address root causes and triggers for radicalization. Listening to youth is an essential element in this effort. We therefore intend to hold four regional workshops, in Western Europe, the Black Sea region, Central Asia and the Western Balkans, on the topic of youth radicalization. Youth will participate and help develop innovative approaches to dealing with this problem. These ideas will give us a sound basis for further work within the Organization. The Chairmanship also plans to implement a project in 2017 to empower youth to address radicalization in their societies.

What do you see as the role of the OSCE in addressing the new reality of migration?

Recent waves of migrants have brought new challenges for many OSCE participating States as well as for their people. I am convinced that a co-operative approach, in particular based on the exchange of experiences and best practices, can contribute to a sustainable reduction of migratory flows.

The OSCE is working on a number of migration-related issues, including creating opportunities for young people in countries of origin. It is also facilitating labour migration policies and integration in host societies. It is helping participating States to cope with migration-related challenges: facilitating dialogue on this subject, assisting in co-ordinating their responses and helping them to respond effectively to the situation.

Through our field operations we can provide tangible assistance in co-ordinating border management and security and in protecting human rights. The OSCE’s work on tolerance and non-discrimination will also assist participating States in integrating those migrants who remain, so as to ensure they become contributing members of our societies.

What will be Austria’s approach to overseeing efforts to resolve the protracted conflicts in the OSCE area?

Austria aims to contribute to preventing and resolving conflicts in the OSCE area. We will therefore concentrate our efforts on reducing the intensity of existing conflicts, by building trust between the parties. The Chairmanship will support the existing OSCE formats to solve these conflicts. In parallel, we will continue discussion on strengthening the OSCE’s instruments for conflict prevention and resolution. The protracted conflicts in the OSCE area have differing characteristics. Accordingly, we also want to take varying approaches and initiatives depending on the contexts and developments.

First and foremost, concern for the safety and security of the affected populations must once again be at the centre of all political initiatives to resolve the conflicts. People in the affected areas face daily challenges in their lives; we must try to ease their problems, even if by small steps. Austria will be open to co-operation and support targeted projects in this regard. As a neutral country, we offer ourselves as an honest broker to help make Europe safer again.

We will also encourage the participation of women in these discussions and initiatives. Women’s inclusion is essential for the sustainability of efforts to prevent, manage and resolve conflict. Peace processes can only be successful in the long term when the voices, perspectives and needs of the entire population are taken into account.

Therefore, the Austrian Chairmanship will support efforts to increase the participation of broader segments of society, in particular women and youth, in peace and security-related activities.

Do you think Austrian neutrality has lessons for some of the OSCE participating States today?

Neutrality has served Austria extremely well as a foreign policy and security instrument and has in the meantime become an integral part of the Austrian national identity. The OSCE participating States pledged in 1975 to respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of other participating States, each of which was granted the right to be a party to an alliance or treaty or to remain neutral. The 1999 Charter for European Security reaffirmed the inherent right of each and every participating State to be free to choose or change its security arrangements. These are fundamental principles of our common security and must be respected as such.

What I want to achieve, however, as Chairperson-in-Office, is to move away from the newly emerged bloc thinking in and outside the OSCE.

You belong to a generation that did not know the Cold War, and have announced that it is important for you to give youth a voice. Do you see fresh, new ways on the horizon for multilateral co-operation on security?

I was privileged to grow up in an ever more open Europe, enjoying freedom, peace and the rule of law within a democratic system – and that not least thanks to the work of the OSCE. Unfortunately, the promise of enduring peace and stability is not yet a reality for all in the OSCE area.

The challenges that confront us today are more complex and interwoven than ever. Our responses must be equally comprehensive. This is why the OSCE’s holistic approach to security is essential to confronting these challenges.

Our response must be comprehensive not only in terms of the methodology applied or the range of topics covered, but also in terms of participation. Participation is key – we need to bring in all the voices, all the elements of society. Participation will provide us with a fresh perspective and allow for innovative ideas to emerge. The OSCE has the right tools to make a significant contribution to security and stability in its area. Input from younger generations has increasingly become a priority as well. Giving youth a greater voice in the Organization will help it to see things from a different perspective and enable it thereby to better meet the needs of all members of our societies.

What do you regard as the niche role for the OSCE regarding European security?

The OSCE’s niche is wherever dialogue and co-operation is most needed. The OSCE is the best place in Europe to begin resolving the conflicts that have cost so many lives over the past years; it is the best place to continue improving security within states, through commitments and programmes designed to support sustainable democratic development and prosperity; it is the best place to intensify efforts to rebuild trust between states. And it is also the best place to begin work to restore the confidence of our citizens in their institutions and to give them the prospect of a better future.

The OSCE has several unique strengths that make it essential for this endeavour. First, it is the world´s largest regional security organization, bringing together States from a vast geographic area. “From Vancouver to Vladivostok” says it all. More important than geography are the shared values and commitments to which our diverse participating States have subscribed. The OSCE brings them together as equals, offering all participants a place for dialogue and discussion, even in the most difficult situations and conflicts.

Second, the OSCE addresses security and stability in a comprehensive, sustainable way. It recognizes that security within states is essential for security between states.

Third, this comprehensive approach is matched by a wide array of instruments at the Organization’s disposal. These instruments – in particular the institutions and field operations – allow the OSCE to make a crucial contribution to ensuring that its values are felt by the people on the ground.