The Finnish Commitee for European Security

Seminar ”Ukraine’s challenging year”

 

(Helsinki, 28 February 2013)

 

Dear members of parliament,

Dear friends,

It is my pleasure to be invited to speak at this seminar.

First, I would like to express my appreciation to very able team of STETE for today discussion.

Let me take a couple of minutes to explain priorities of Ukrainian Chairmanship.

Ukraine will try to strengthen OSCE as an open platform for inclusive dialogue among equal partners.

Ukrainian Chairmanship is strongly committed to the OSCE concept of comprehensive and indivisible security.

We will attach particular attention to ensure a balanced approach across all three dimensions.

Our aim is to promote trust, confidence and reconciliation among the participating States.

Our goal is to strengthen the OSCE by promoting full implementation of commitments by each of the 57 participating States, including Ukraine itself.

 

1. Helsinki +40 process

The Chairmanship welcomes the start of “Helsinki+40” process.

 Informal Working Group has already begun its activities.

The Ukrainian Chairmanship will pursue this initiative in close cooperation with future Chairmanships and each participating State.

We try to engage all participating States to work together in a result-oriented manner.

We will be guided by the principles of equality, inclusiveness, transparency, joint ownership, common responsibility and constructive engagement.

We hope that this process will lead to a more effective and efficient OSCE.

2. Arms control and Confidence- and Security-Building Measures

Arms control and CSBM remain major tools for maintaining peace and security in our region.

Our goal is to update and modernize the OSCE politico-military instruments.

Ukrainian Chairmanship is ready to promote updating of the Vienna Document 2011 on Confidence and Security Building Measures.

Chairmanship also stresses the importance to update OSCE Principles Governing Non-proliferation.

We will work closely with the Forum for Security Co-operation in order to outline principles for development of conventional arms control in Europe.

 

3. Unresolved conflicts in the OSCE area

Chairmanship is determined to address protracted conflicts in the OSCE area.

The protracted conflicts continue to present challenges to our common security.

It is my pleasure to inform that Former Ukrainian Ambassador to Finland Andrii Deshchytsia was appointed as the Special Representative of the Chairman-in-Office.

Our intention is to bring special attention to the Transnistria conflict in Moldova, and to boost confidence between parties to this conflict.

Our goal is to maintain the positive dynamics of negotiations in 5+2 format. Through these and other activities we hope to see advances toward the comprehensive settlement based on the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Republic of Moldova.

First this year 5+2 meeting took place on 19 February in Lviv, Ukraine. Next meeting will be held in May in Odesa, Ukraine. We also initiated to host a meeting between the Moldovan and Transdniestrian leaders this year.

We will continue to work toward restoring a meaningful OSCE presence in Georgia. We reiterate our firm support for the Geneva discussions and the security and stability of Georgia.

Similarly, we will continue to work toward the peaceful settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, under the auspices of the Minsk Group Co-Chairs. Ukraine supports the efforts of the Minsk Group Co-Chairs to advance the search for political settlement of the conflict.

 

4. Addressing transnational threats

Ukraine will continue work in the Security Dimension by addressing transnational threats such as terrorism, organized crime, narcotics trafficking and cyber attacks.

Ukraine will encourage implementation of The Dublin Ministerial decision on TNT threats.

Ukrainian Chairmanship will continue developing Confidence-building measures in cyber security and will support the activities of the relevant Informal Working Group.

We propose to devote a specific session of the 2013 Annual Security Review Conference to the border-related issues. Ukraine will stress the importance to update the OSCE 2005 Border Security and Management Concept.

In the first half of 2013 we would propose to conduct thematic events on countering terrorism and on combating the illicit drugs.

5. Economic and Environmental Dimension

The Chairmanship will strive to improve the effectiveness of the OSCE economic and environmental activities.

We support focus on environmental impact of energy industry and look forward to the discussions that will take place in the framework of the Economic Forum.

The second preparatory conference will take place in Kyiv on 16-17 April 2013.

We will encourage all states to discuss energy and environmental challenges to security and to promote energy efficiency and renewable energy cooperation in the OSCE area.

The Ukrainian Chairmanship supports discussions on adaptation of 2003 Maastricht Strategy Document for the Economic and Environmental dimension.

6. Implementation of the Human Dimension commitments

 

Full implementation of commitments in the Human Dimension is a top priority of the Ukrainian Chairmanship.

We will promote combating trafficking in human beings, media freedom and youth human rights education.

Chairmanship will organize an international conference on combating trafficking in human beings.

We will continue OSCE focus on media freedom. We plan to hold an expert seminar on the issue of legal aspects for the media freedom.

Ukrainian Chairmanship is preparing to host an international event aimed at engaging youth representatives from all participating States and partners for co-operation.

The Chairmanship will also support constructive engagement of civil society in achieving the goals and objectives of the OSCE.

Ukraine will fully support the work of the OSCE Institutions - the Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights, the High Commissioner on National Minorities and the Representative on Freedom of the Media.

Promotion of the Human Dimension commitments is homework for Ukraine itself. We have to demonstrate strong ability to respect OSCE standards in our country.

 

7. Enhancing result-oriented co-operation with Partners

We will support strengthening of political dialogue and practical co-operation with our Mediterranean and Asian Partners.

The Chairmanship will promote open and constructive discussions, including in the framework of Asian and Mediterranean Partners for Co-operation Conferences.

 

8. Reinforcing OSCE’s Effectiveness and Efficiency

 

The Chairmanship will promote efforts to further improve the programme and budget planning process within the Organization.

The Chairmanship will strive to achieve an agreement on amending the OSCE Financial Regulations to strengthen the effectiveness and transparency of the OSCE.

The Ukrainian Chairmanship will further promote a dialogue on strengthening the OSCE legal framework.

Ukraine will work to promote more pragmatic and goal-oriented cooperation with other international organizations, including regional and sub-regional ones.

This year is challenging not only for Ukraine but for all participating states.

We hope all states will be able to take strong practical decisions at Kyiv Ministerial Council in December.

Kiitos.

 

 

 

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