Thank you Madam Chair, dear Kaja, and to the Secretary General, for setting out Estonia’s priorities for the Forum for Security Co-operation this Trimester. You can count on the UK’s continued support, as you chair our Forum at this crucial time for Euro-Atlantic Security.
Madam Chair, as we know, the FSC’s mandate is broad and has rightly evolved over decades. In 1996, our Heads of State and Government adopted a Decision tasking the Forum to manage “preventive diplomacy, crisis management and post-conflict rehabilitation”. In the 1996 Budapest Document, Ministers tasked the FSC with “tackling regional security problems (including crises) flexibly in ways appropriate to each case”. So not only did our Ministers mandate the Forum to manage risk-reduction, they also saw value in our politico-military dialogue continuing even in times of crisis.
The OSCE has an extensive acquis and toolkit to do this work. But it relies on political will to be effective. Participating States have used the toolkit, including transparency mechanisms, to offer de-escalation. For example, by Georgia in 2008, by Ukraine – twenty times – in 2014, and again by Ukraine in 2022. As these examples proved, transparency mechanisms can offer a ladder to defuse a situation or at least an early warning indicator. But no tool can substitute for the political will required to de-escalate. Especially if that State has decided to invade, as Russia’s actions have shown so clearly.
Madam Chair, the Code of Conduct commits us to act in solidarity if OSCE norms and commitments are violated. As catalogued by the OSCE Moscow Mechanisms, ODIHR and UN, there is irrefutable independent evidence of Russia violating international law. As per the Code, such breaches are a “direct and legitimate” concern for us all.
That is why our weekly statements will continue reiterating our support for Ukraine and calling for Russia to end its war and return to abiding by the UN Charter and the Helsinki Final Act. That is why we welcome Estonia’s three Security Dialogue topics on the Code of Conduct; Women, Peace & Security; and protection of children in armed conflicts, keeping a focus on Russia’s invasion. That is also why we will keep on using this Forum and its tools to execute our mandate, including on risk-reduction and voluntary briefs on military exercises.
Madam Chair, our Ministers mandated the Forum to hold a weekly politico-military dialogue in order to execute our vital mandate. We can only do that if we respect the Forum and meet weekly to fulfil, not to frustrate, its work.
I wish to conclude by welcoming Finland to the FSC Troika, and to thank Denmark for their work as they leave the Troika. And most importantly, I wish you, Madam Chair, and your able teams here in Vienna and in Tallinn the best of luck this Trimester. You can count on the support of the UK delegation.
