OSCE: RESPONSE TO LITHUANIAN FM USACKAS

UNCLAS STATE 109024

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: OSCE PREL PGOV LI
SUBJECT: OSCE: RESPONSE TO LITHUANIAN FM USACKAS


1. (U) Post is authorized to deliver the following statement
at the October 22, 2009, Permanent Council meeting in Vienna:

Begin text:

Thank you, Madam Chair.

We warmly welcome you to the Permanent Council, Mr. Minister.


As Chairman of the Council of the Baltic Sea States, you have
seen first hand how effective cross-border cooperation can
help states advance their mutual interests. In an even
broader sense, the OSCE is a uniquely comprehensive platform
for regional cooperation.

Our shared concept of security as comprehensive and
cross-dimensional is the foundation of the OSCE, and makes
this organization our best platform for political dialogue on
a range of issues, including both current and newly emerging
security-related concerns in Europe. As you note, Mr.
Minister, the OSCE faces numerous challenges, and we all must
work to develop joint responses.

The August 2008 war in Georgia highlighted continuing threats
to security and stability in the OSCE region, and
demonstrated that the OSCE's capacity for early action must
be strengthened. In our Corfu Process discussions, we and
other participating States have stressed this point, and
urged that the OSCE's ability to prevent and respond to
conflict must be improved. My delegation shared a concept
for a new conflict prevention and crisis response mechanism
earlier this week, and is eager to discuss this concept and
to explore ways of strengthening the OSCE's ability to
proactively address acute and immediate threats to security.

Like you, Mr. Minister, we believe the protracted conflicts
in Georgia, Moldova, and Nagorno-Karabakh are among the most
pressing challenges the OSCE faces today. Collective action
and political will are key to resolving these conflicts; we
urge all parties to work toward peaceful long-term,
comprehensive settlements. In this context, we reiterate our
firm belief that an OSCE presence in Georgia can play a key
role in conflict resolution, and should be re-established.
We appreciate the concerted efforts of the Greek Chairmanship
in this regard, and remain committed to the OSCE's continued
involvement in Georgia.

Turning to other matters, Mr. Minister, we believe that the
OSCE can play a critical role in enhancing energy security
and in combating trafficking in human beings, weapons and
drug smuggling, organized crime, and terrorism. These are
complex threats that ignore borders, and make joint action
and regional cooperation absolutely essential. The OSCE is
already active in these areas, but we can and should do more,
particularly in Afghanistan. We echo your call, Mr.
Minister, to expand existing border security projects in
Central Asia, and to work regionally and with other
international partners to build law enforcement capacity and
tackle critical security threats.

Finally, Mr. Minister, we wish to stress the continuing
importance we place on the OSCE's human dimension. Our core
objective remains the same: to promote human rights,
democracy, minority rights, and the rule of law, and to
combat intolerance and discrimination. We must continue to
advance these values and ensure the full implementation of
our common commitments. We must address negative
developments, such as growing restrictions on freedom of the
media, freedom of assembly, or freedom of religion, as well
as growing anti-Semitism, and strive to protect fundamental
rights and freedoms across the OSCE region.

We look forward to working with you, Mr. Minister, as
Lithuania prepares to assume the OSCE Chairmanship in 2011,
and begins to work more closely with Kazakhstan as part of
the OSCE Troika next year. We have been impressed with your
early preparations, and appreciate your clear commitment to
the OSCE's human dimension activities, its conflict
prevention and resolution efforts, and its comprehensive and
cross-dimensional approach to security.

Mr. Minister, the United States looks forward to continued
close cooperation with Lithuania, both within the OSCE and
bilaterally, and trusts that you will provide strong and
effective leadership in 2011. You can count on our full
support.

Thank you, Madam Chair.
CLINTON