Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08STATE68463
2008-06-25 20:21:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Secretary of State
Cable title:
OSCE PERMANENT COUNCIL: RESPONSE TO OSCE HIGH
how-toVZCZCXRO3250 PP RUEHAST RUEHFL RUEHLA RUEHMRE RUEHPOD RUEHROV RUEHSR DE RUEHC #8463 1772020 ZNR UUUUU ZZH P R 252021Z JUN 08 FM SECSTATE WASHDC TO RUEHVEN/USMISSION USOSCE PRIORITY 1567 INFO ORG FOR SECURITY CO OP IN EUR COLLECTIVE
UNCLAS STATE 068463
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM OSCE
SUBJECT: OSCE PERMANENT COUNCIL: RESPONSE TO OSCE HIGH
COMMISSIONER ON NATIONAL MINORITIES, KNUT VOLLEBAEK
Post is authorized to make the following statement at the
June 26 meeting of the OSCE Permanent Council in Vienna, in
response to the report to be presented by High Commissioner
for National Minorities Knut Vollebaek.
Begin Text:
Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
The United States welcomes the High Commissioner on National
Minorities, Ambassador Vollebaek, to the Permanent Council
and thanks him for his report.
The United States strongly supports the Office of the High
Commissioner and believes it plays an important role in
identifying and addressing national minority-related issues
throughout the OSCE region.
We support the High Commissioner,s assistance to
participating States in the OSCE region. We are pleased to
note his continued high level of commitment to foster
interethnic dialogue and protection of the rights of
minorities in Kosovo. In our view, the High Commissioner,s
efforts with the Kosovo Albanian and Serb communities are
vital and should continue.
Experience has shown that detailed recommendations and
guidelines are often helpful to public authorities and
minorities in addressing and implementing national minority
commitments. In particular, we believe that the High
Commissioner on National Minorities can play a unique role in
bringing together neighboring countries to address regional
minority issues. We appreciate the High Commissioner's
energetic efforts to achieve these worthy goals. In this
context, we note with interest the High Commissioner,s
intention to launch a new set of recommendations regarding
national minorities. We look forward to engaging in a
dialogue with the High Commissioner on these recommendations.
The mandate of the High Commissioner on National Minorities
requires his office to work in confidence and independently
of all parties. We would like to reiterate our strong
support for the continued autonomy of the High Commissioner
as well as that of all OSCE institutions.
Ambassador Vollebaek, we wish you every success in your
essential work in the coming year.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
End text
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