Changes to OSCE “required and necessary” – Slovene chairman

STA news agency, Ljubljana
24 Feb 05

Vienna, 24 February: Foreign Minister Dimitrij Rupel, the OSCE
chairman-in-office, on Thursday [24 February] addressed the OSCE
Parliamentary Assembly to present the organisation’s current plans and
activities.

“These are interesting and dynamic times in the OSCE. Changes are
required and necessary,” he stressed.

According to Rupel, “the OSCE is facing a difficult moment or an
opportunity, depending on how you look at it. Significant changes in
Europe, with EU and NATO enlargement and new challenges to security,
have changed the way that we look at security in Europe and, as a
result, the role of the OSCE”.

The panel of eminent persons, which is expected to unveil proposals
for OSCE reform at the summer session of the parliamentary assembly,
will present its vision for a new impetuous for political dialogue,
explained Rupel.

“The panel met for the first time in Ljubljana last week and has
already begun to consider some fundamental issues. As the focal point
for the panel I have encouraged the seven members…[ellipsis as
published] to think outside the box and to consider root and branch
reforms for the OSCE,” he said.

According to Rupel, the panel was asked to consider the strategic
vision for the OSCE, how the organization can stimulate high-level
political dialogue, what participating states can do through the OSCE
that they can not do through other channels and the role of the OSCE
after EU and NATO enlargement.

The OSCE chairman also summarized his recent meetings with officials
in Ukraine, Russia, Serbia-Montenegro, Germany, Uzbekistan and
Kazakhstan, making special mention of the organisation’s active role
in determining a future status for Kosovo.

“Expectations are high among Kosovo Albanians about their political
future…[ellipsis as published] I impressed upon the Kosovo Albanian
leadership the importance of protecting the rights of non-Albanian
ethnic communities. At the same time I stressed to the Serb minority
the need to be involved in the political life of Kosovo,” he said.

The participants were also addressed by Austrian President Heinz
Fischer and President of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly Alcee
Hastings, while Rupel met with Armenian Parliament Speaker Artur
Baghdasarian on the sidelines of the meeting.