01 December 2010
Clinton Calls For Strengthened OSCE
Washington — Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton called on the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) to expand its role in promoting human rights, preventing regional conflicts and enhancing security across the continent.
Clinton spoke December 1 at the OSCE summit in Kazakhstan’s capital, Astana. Kazakhstan, which took OSCE leadership January 1, is the first former Soviet republic to chair the trans-Atlantic security organization.
“Our goal here in Astana should be to move forward on democracy, human rights, economic growth and strengthening our security community,” Clinton said, adding that “if we can do that, then we will not only have a successful summit, we can indeed create a safer, freer and more prosperous future together.”
The secretary outlined U.S. priorities for the organization, the first of which is to increase the group’s role in supporting stability in Afghanistan.
“OSCE participating states have 1,200 miles of borders with Afghanistan, and we should expect OSCE efforts to improve border security, counter illicit trafficking, boost legitimate trade and promote economic development.”
Clinton said Afghanistan is “just one conflict where the OSCE can and should play an expanded role.” The U.S. supports empowering the organization to respond to crises in member states, such as recent situations in Georgia and Kyrgyzstan.
While enhancing the group’s capacity to respond to urgent conflicts is a key step, the secretary highlighted the “even more essential task” of strengthening the OSCE’s role in preventing conflict from erupting or reigniting.
Clinton also emphasized the importance of member countries applying the group’s commitment to human rights.
“It is not enough to design a national human rights plan if it isn’t implemented. It is not enough for governments to empower only the civil society organizations they agree with while crippling others with legal restrictions and red tape. And it is not enough for a constitution to guarantee freedom of the press if, in reality, journalists are put under pressure and even assaulted.”
She said obligations for member states include holding free and fair national elections, and keeping elected officials responsible for governing democratically.
“Yes, the list is long, but we’re not asking participating states to accept new principles or rights — only to honor existing commitments.”
Clinton added that the OSCE’s comprehensive concept of security “demands democracy, human rights and fundamental freedoms for individuals within states.”
The OSCE is a forum for issues of peace, security and human rights in Europe and Central Asia and is committed to democracy, tolerance and media freedoms. The U.S. Mission to the OSCE identifies it as unique among international organizations “in the acceptance by the participating states of the principle that open societies built on human rights and democracy are a necessary component of true security.”
On the sidelines of the summit, Clinton met with Belarus Foreign Minister Sergey Martynov. The two announced in a joint statement that, with U.S. support, Belarus will eliminate its stockpiles of highly enriched uranium. The statement said Belarus aims to complete the project by the 2012 Nuclear Security Summit.
(This is a product of the Bureau of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://www.america.gov)
