OSCE PERMANENT COUNCIL: RESPONSE TO SPECIAL

UNCLAS STATE 126211

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV KTIP OSCE
SUBJECT: OSCE PERMANENT COUNCIL: RESPONSE TO SPECIAL
REPRESENTATIVE BIAUDET


1. (U) Post is authorized to make the following statement at
the December 10, 2009, meeting of the OSCE Permanent Council
in Vienna:

Begin text:

Thank you, Madam Chair.

It is a pleasure to welcome you to the Permanent Council
today, Special Representative Biaudet. Your report bears
witness to the excellent work you and your staff have done
over the last three years, and highlights the ongoing
importance of OSCE efforts to combat trafficking in human
beings.

The United States attaches a high priority to preventing
trafficking in all its forms, identifying and assisting
victims, and to effectively prosecuting traffickers. Your
office plays an important role in this regard, and we commend
your efforts to help participating States meet OSCE
anti-trafficking commitments and implement relevant Action
Plan recommendations. We particularly appreciate your
country assessments, and hope this work will continue and
that participating States will utilize this information to
deepen implementation of anti-trafficking commitments.

We recognize your office's valuable work with governments,
including assistance in policy work and setting up national
strategies, as well as the conferences and technical seminars
throughout the year. We also appreciate the extent to which
your office coordinates with other OSCE bodies: the Office
for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights, OSCE field
missions, and other offices and units in the OSCE
Secretariat. We commend your efforts to coordinate your
activities with other multilateral organizations, and hope
that your successor will continue this emphasis on synergies
without duplication. We look forward to the further
development of an integrated approach to preventing and
combating trafficking in human beings across the OSCE region.

Special Representative Biaudet, thank you for the dedication
and passion you have demonstrated over the last three years
to working with governments to help put an end to human
trafficking. We wish you all the best.

Thank you, Madam Chair.

END TEXT
CLINTON