INSTRUCTION CABLE - U.S. INTERVENTION AT OSCE

UNCLAS STATE 102928 SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: UNSCR PREL GG SUBJECT: INSTRUCTION CABLE - U.S. INTERVENTION AT OSCE CHAIRMAN BRIEFING TO SECURITY COUNCIL ¶1. The Department requests that USUN deliver the following statement during the September 26 OSCE Chairman-in-Office Briefing to the UN Security Council. ¶2. Begin statement: I also would like to welcome the Chairman-in-Office and thank him for his comprehensive overview of OSCE activities under Finland,s leadership. Mr. Stubb,s presentation touches on the OSCE,s multi-faceted approach to security, including the political and military aspects as well as the economic, environmental and human dimensions. We commend the OSCE,s efforts to further the principles of the Helsinki Final Act and to promote security, economic development, democratization, and respect for fundamental human rights throughout Europe and Central Asia. We note with regret that many of these bedrock principles are under attack. Last month, the Russian Federation invaded Georgia, a sovereign and independent OSCE participating State - an act that violated Georgia,s sovereignty and territorial integrity. The Russian Federation,s subsequent unilateral decision to recognize as independent the Georgian regions of South Ossetia and Abkhazia as independent, in contravention of OSCE principles and several UN Security Council Resolutions, has been strongly condemned by my government and many of the others represented in this room. We strongly commend the OSCE's work in Georgia and appreciate the organization's ongoing efforts to contribute to a comprehensive solution to the conflict. I also want to commend Foreign Minister Stubb personally for the leadership he has demonstrated throughout the Georgia crisis. The OSCE responded quickly to the Russian Federation,s actions, sending an additional 20 OSCE military monitoring officers to Georgia. We strongly commend the OSCE,s work in Georgia and appreciate the organization,s ongoing efforts to contribute to a comprehensive solution to the conflict. International monitors must have access throughout all of Georgia to verify implementation of the August 12 ceasefire agreement and to shed light on human rights and humanitarian concerns. We regret that the Russian Federation has blocked the OSCE monitors, access to South Ossetia. Furthermore, Russia,s inflexibility on the issue of the monitors, area of responsibility, which we believe should extend to South Ossetia and Abkhazia - has now holding up the deployment of an additional 80 monitors. International monitors must have access throughout all of Georgia - OSCE in South Ossetia and the UN in Abkhazia - to verify implementation of the August 12 ceasefire agreement and to shed light on human rights and humanitarian concerns. The United States strongly reiterates that Russia must honor its responsibility to protect residents in the areas of Georgia where Russian troops are present, facilitate safe return of displaced persons, and assist the free flow of humanitarian aid. I would welcome the Minister,s thoughts on other steps the OSCE can take to contribute to progress on the unresolved conflicts in Europe. I also understand that last year's OSCE Ministerial adopted a major decision to enhance OSCE engagement with Afghanistan; it remains our hope that a program can be agreed that meets Afghanistan,s own request for in-country training, and we would welcome the Minister,s assessment of how that is proceeding. Turning to Kosovo, this year has been one of transformation. Kosovo institutions that were built by the Kosovars with the assistance of the OSCE and UN have become fully functional, and the Kosovo people have rightly taken control of them. Since gaining independence Kosovo has adopted a new constitution and implementing legislation that enshrines the rights of minorities. The OSCE mission in Kosovo has played an important role in reaching out to minorities and we look forward to OSCE's continued engagement there. At last year's OSCE Ministerial, members adopted a major decision to enhance OSCE engagement with Afghanistan. We are pleased to hear that concrete projects related to policing and the fight against drug trafficking will be underway by the end of the year. OSCE also plays a critical role in promoting democracy and reform through election observation. The OSCE,s Office of Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODHIR) has set the gold standard for election observation methodology. Its strong credentials and expertise in this area is respected world-wide. The OSCE will observe our Presidential elections in November, and we welcome that effort. Yet we also hear that some OSCE countries are increasingly challenging this key mission. An autonomous elections watchdog can contribute overall to strengthening democratic institutions in countries in transition and well established democracies. Thank you. RICE