OSCE Forum for Security Co-operation N°1133

At the outset, we would like to thank Ms Maka Botchorishvili, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Georgia, for joining us today and for her opening remarks. The European Union and its Member States congratulate Georgia on assuming the Chairpersonship of the OSCE Forum for Security Co-operation.

Rightly staying high on the agenda of this Forum is Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine and its repercussions for European and global security. Russia’s intensified attacks since the beginning of this year, including several just last week, resulted in a high number of victims and human suffering. We call for accountability for all international crimes and human rights violations and abuses.

The EU and its Member States remain steadfast in our commitment to a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in Ukraine, grounded in the principles of the UN Charter and international law. As in the past, it is still for Russia to show its willingness to achieve peace.

The peaceful resolution of all unresolved conflicts in the OSCE region, including those in Georgia and in the Republic of Moldova, with full respect for their territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence within their internationally recognised borders, remains a key priority for the EU. We also strongly support the Armenia-Azerbaijan normalisation process, based on the principles of recognition of sovereignty, the inviolability of borders and territorial integrity.

Mr Chair, turning to your envisaged Security Dialogues, the OSCE Code of Conduct on Politico-Military Aspects of Security remains a fundamental and unique OSCE document providing normative, ethical and political standards to guide all participating States. As such, your proposal to address the general implementation of the Code of Conduct with a focus on strengthening compliance and presenting best practices in its implementation is relevant and timely. Equally important will be devoting time to address the multidimensional impact of armed conflict on women and girls and their critical role in peacebuilding and recovery efforts, as well as focusing on conflict-related human rights violations. Gender equality and human rights are at the core of universal values and constitute stand-alone priorities mainstreamed across all European Union policies.

The EU and its Member States also recall the need for this Forum to meet weekly, as mandated, as it works on increasing military security and stability in the OSCE area. In this regard, we emphasise that it is of the common interest of all the participating States that the FSC fulfils its mandate as a platform of exchange and de-escalation.

Ambassador, we stand ready to work with you and your team as you take over the Chairpersonship of this Forum. We also continue to count on France as it stays in the FSC Troika and welcome the United Kingdom as the Troika’s newest member. Lastly, we bid farewell to Finland which is now leaving it.

Thank you.

Albania, Andorra, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Republic of Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Norway, San Marino and Ukraine align themselves with this statement.