Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08STATE102928
2008-09-25 23:08:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Secretary of State
Cable title:  

INSTRUCTION CABLE - U.S. INTERVENTION AT OSCE

Tags:  UNSCR PREL GG 
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TO RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK IMMEDIATE 0000
INFO UN SECURITY COUNCIL COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE
RUEHSI/AMEMBASSY TBILISI IMMEDIATE 0000
RUEHVEN/USMISSION USOSCE IMMEDIATE 0000
UNCLAS STATE 102928 

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E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: UNSCR PREL GG
SUBJECT: INSTRUCTION CABLE - U.S. INTERVENTION AT OSCE
CHAIRMAN BRIEFING TO SECURITY COUNCIL

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