Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09STATE57302
2009-06-03 21:54:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Secretary of State
Cable title:
OSCE PERMANENT COUNCIL: RESPONSE TO FOREIGN
how-toVZCZCXRO9830 PP RUEHAST RUEHDBU RUEHFL RUEHLA RUEHMRE RUEHPOD RUEHROV RUEHSK RUEHSR DE RUEHC #7302 1542206 ZNR UUUUU ZZH P R 032154Z JUN 09 FM SECSTATE WASHDC TO RUEHVEN/USMISSION USOSCE PRIORITY 1036 INFO ORG FOR SECURITY CO OP IN EUR COLLECTIVE
UNCLAS STATE 057302
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: OSCE PGOV PREL PHUM COE
SUBJECT: OSCE PERMANENT COUNCIL: RESPONSE TO FOREIGN
MINISTER SAMUEL ZBOGAR OF SLOVENIA
(U) Post is authorized to present the following statement at
the Permanent Council in Vienna on June 4.
Begin text:
Thank you, Madame Chairwoman.
We would like to welcome Foreign Minister Zbogar of Slovenia
and thank him for his presentation of Slovenia's priorities
as Chair of the Council of Europe's Committee of Ministers.
We welcome Slovenia's intention to focus on the promotion of
fundamental values common to the COE and the OSCE. We value
the complementary role the Council of Europe plays to the
OSCE in protecting human rights, and strengthening democratic
institutions and the rule of law. We share Slovenia's deep
concern about discrimination, particularly against Roma and
other ethnic minorities. This is why, together with Canada,
we felt compelled to propose a draft declaration on incidents
of violence against ethnic and other minorities. We hope we
can count on the support of Slovenia, and all other OSCE
participating States, in this endeavor.
We support Slovenia's intention as Chair of the Committee of
Ministers to strengthen security in Europe, particularly
through increased attention to combating terrorism, organized
crime and corruption. These are all areas where the OSCE has
developed extensive experience, and where cooperation between
the COE and the OSCE has great potential.
Cooperation between our organizations also has potential in
Georgia, where restoring democracy, human rights and the rule
of law in all areas affected by the conflict remains
critical. We share the Council of Europe's concerns about
the humanitarian situation in Georgia, and join its call on
all those concerned to facilitate and grant access by the
international community to all persons affected by the
conflict and in need of human rights protection. We share
Slovenia's regret that no agreement has been reached on a
continued OSCE presence in Georgia. We agree that such a
presence is essential to restoring security and stability in
the region.
Foreign Minister Zbogar, thank you for joining us today and
sharing your thoughts on how the OSCE and the Council of
Europe can best work together.
Thank you, Madame Chairwoman.
End Text.
CLINTON