Hoge Vertegenwoordiger Ashton over Europees beleid ten aanzien van conflictmanagement (en)

Elements for Intervention at OSCE working dinner, Almaty

The last two years have seen a broad-ranging, highly useful debate on core issues of the security of Europe, in its widest sense, anchored in the Corfu Process.

Now, we need to make step-change, moving on from a brain-storming phase to one where ideas turn into reality, and real improvements are made.

In so doing, we should strive toward the same strategic vision: a Euro-Atlantic and Eurasian region that is whole, free and at peace with itself, where disputes are solved peacefully and respect for common commitments is universal.

To get there, we need to prioritise, focussing on four key areas for a start:

First, becoming better at preventing, managing and resolving conflicts, and rehabilitating conflict-stricken regions. We should start right away, with Kyrgyzstan.

Proposals that are now on the table - a police advisory group, an independent international inquiry - should be agreed on and implemented. This is about credibility: it is not serious to discuss the security framework at large if we cannot address specific problems as they appear.

The protracted conflicts in Georgia, Transnistria and Nagorny-Karabakh threaten the stability and security of all. We need new, strong resolve to settle them. We see preparedness to contribute to this as a litmus test of our partners’ good will.

Second, strengthening conventional arms control, stopping and reversing the decay of Conventional Armed Forces in Europe Treaty (CFE) and reinforcing confidence and security building measures.

Third, strengthening the human dimension. This is a cornerstone of our unique, comprehensive concept of security. Human rights and fundamental freedoms, including media freedom, are key.

Fourth, reinforcing our ability to jointly tackle transnational and emerging threats and challenges that affect us all. Threats emanating from Afghanistan are a prime example.

The next step should be to mandate our Ambassadors to draw up, by the end of the year, an ambitious yet focussed work plan on how to move forward, across these four areas, building on the many useful ideas put forward in the Corfu Process.

The OSCE summit makes sense if it can mobilise political will to achieve real progress, including on the protracted conflicts. The agenda must reflect the need to move forward on the four key priorities I have outlined.

At the same time, we must reaffirm unequivocally all the commitments that we have all signed up to over the last 35 years.

I hope to hear clear and strong support for all of this at this meeting.