Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe

Keynote speech at OSCE Focus 2017: Empowering the OSCE in Challenging Times

Secretary General Thomas Greminger

Geneva, 13 October 2017

Dear Colleagues, dear Friends,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

It is a great pleasure to once again participate in the OSCE Focus seminar. From a personal perspective, three months into my new assignment, and more generally, as we approach the Vienna Ministerial Council, this is a timely moment to reflect on where we stand and where we are headed.

As we discuss the role of the OSCE today, we are fully aware of the rapidly evolving security landscape and mindful of the growing fragmentation and polarization within our region and within many of our societies. We must recognize that the order that developed after the end of the Cold War failed to bring about lasting stability. Divergent threat perceptions have emerged, trust and confidence have diminished, and military predictability has deteriorated. The crisis in and around Ukraine remains unresolved and overall tensions are growing, as is the risk of further conflict.

To make matters worse, the return of geopolitics is challenging our model of co-operation at a time when our region also faces a host of complex and interconnected transnational challenges that require co-operative solutions. Inter-state relations are increasingly governed by a zero-sum mentality that we hoped we had left behind.

To avoid further deterioration of our security situation, there is no viable alternative but to engage in genuine and open dialogue without preconditions. This necessarily includes a discussion on ways to intensify our efforts to protect and uphold OSCE principles and commitments. However, it equally requires pragmatism and a willingness to seek co-operative solutions to the most prominent challenges on our joint agenda. Due to its inclusive nature and its consensus-based governance, the OSCE remains the best-placed forum for security dialogue in our region.

Ten months after it was launched by the Hamburg Ministerial Council, the Structured Dialogue has proved to be an important step in the right direction. This significant initiative to create a space for informal, inclusive and open discussions on confidence-building, risk reduction and arms control has undoubtedly made a good start. This should be incredibly important to all of us. We know what is at stake. Military activities are increasing in intensity and scale, and we cannot afford a renewed arms race and possible escalation of military incidents due to misunderstandings. The proposed mapping of military capabilities is a small but significant first specific outcome.

Along the way, we have begun to discuss underlying risk perceptions, military postures, doctrines and military-to-military co-ordination to enhance our understanding of the issues at stake. I commend Christian Strohal and Eberhard Pohl, and their teams, for their concerted efforts in moving this process forward. For my part, I am cautiously optimistic that the Structured Dialogue will be useful in identifying viable options for renewed engagement with the aim of reducing tensions and restoring confidence in co-operative security. At the Secretariat, we are aware that discussions may also lead to a more operational role for the OSCE in implementing CSBMs and arms control commitments. We will continue to provide our wholehearted support for this process.

At the same time, we will need to multiply our efforts to find co-operative solutions in preventing and combating threats and challenges of common concern. Key areas include cyber-security and countering terrorism, violent extremism and radicalization. But we should also look to other areas that could contribute to developing a positive agenda. There is certainly potential in the economic and environmental dimension – including economic connectivity, water diplomacy, and disaster risk reduction. In this context, I will also seek to initiate new partnerships with development agencies that could boost our activities in support of OSCE objectives that correlate closely with the 2030 Agenda.
In an environment characterized by low levels of trust among our participating States, it is essential that we reinforce our dialogue and our activities across the whole spectrum of issues that defines the OSCE’s concept of co-operative security. Instead of arguing about which dimension might be over or under-resourced compared with the others, we should drop this “rebalancing discourse” and strengthen the OSCE across all three dimensions.

Having said this, our commitments on human rights, the rule of law, democratic institutions, tolerance and non-discrimination remain key to our security concept. And in a security environment that is constantly presenting us with new, complex and interconnected challenges ranging from terrorism and violent extremism to climate change, sustainable development and migration, one thing is clear: we must make sure that the dignity of the individual always remains an integral part of our action. 

While pursuing our comprehensive mandate, we will continue to put significant emphasis on prevention.  Preventing instability and conflict is core OSCE business and enhancing the OSCE’s early response and our conflict mediation and facilitation capacities will continue to be a priority task. This can potentially, though not automatically, also bolster our efforts to de-escalate the ongoing crisis in and around Ukraine, as well as reinvigorate our support for the established formats for managing and resolving the protracted conflicts.

The success of our efforts to address the crisis in and around Ukraine is heavily dependent on the willingness of the sides to live up to their commitments under the Minsk Agreements and to engage with each other in good faith. Unfortunately, the current reality is very different. The political process seems stuck and the situation on the ground remains volatile and prone to further escalation. And the security, safety and unimpeded access of the SMM throughout the entire territory of Ukraine are constantly challenged. We will be investing more in advanced technical means such as UAVs and sophisticated cameras and we will continue to be flexible in the way we conduct our monitoring duties. However, we cannot compromise the security of our staff. And at the end of the day, we are aware that resolving the conflict, as opposed to simply managing it, requires the political will of the sides and the main stakeholders to implement the Minsk Agreements.

Our field presences in Ukraine and elsewhere are essential tools for co-operation but we know that they need to be adapted to changing circumstances to remain relevant, welcome and valued supports to their host countries. We need to encourage creative thinking on how to improve their impact on the basis of our comprehensive approach to security. We should also engage in forward-looking discussion on new approaches and alternative types of presences. For example, we could consider presences with a thematic focus or offices in support of our efforts to liaise more closely with international organizations and partners. I will moderate a high-level side event on field operations at the Vienna Ministerial Council, and early next year I will convene an OSCE Security Days expert roundtable to explore how we can enhance OSCE assistance, visibility and impact on the ground.

Dear colleagues,

As Secretary General, I want to ensure that the OSCE is fit-for-purpose and well prepared to respond to contemporary challenges. To achieve the ambitious goals that we are meant to realize, the Organization needs efficient processes and adequate resources. For next year, I have presented a reasonable and lean budget that will enable us to maintain continuity in key areas of activity, but I strongly believe that it is time to move away from the mantra of zero nominal growth. At the same time, I am committed to carefully look at how we use our resources and how we can increase our impact through greater strategic coherence, programmatic integration and long-term planning.

I will in due course initiate reform processes in a number of areas such as the budget, personnel, effectiveness measures, ICT, informal dialogue fora and cross-dimensional work, and will suggest structural adjustments as appropriate and relevant.

Speaking of cross-dimensional work, I am convinced that we can achieve significant synergies through strong collaboration among our executive structures and departments, and by strengthening our partnerships, above all with the UN but also with other organizations at the international and regional levels. Our Partners for Co-operation in the Mediterranean and in Asia deserve to be more closely associated with our dialogue and co-operation initiatives. Their participation should be encouraged and we should become more flexible as an Organization to ensure their inclusion. Introducing greater continuity and a long-term vision could make these key partnerships both more strategic and operational. I very much look forward to the Mediterranean Conference in Palermo later this month for further impulses in this regard. I know that our Italian friends are strongly invested in making Palermo a solid reference point for our future co-operation. 

In everything I do, I rely heavily on the support and political guidance of the participating States, the Troika and the Chairmanship. But I am more than ready to provide ideas and to engage in discussions on how to improve the way we operate. One of the strengths of this meeting is that past, current and incoming Chairmanships are represented. Ensuring continuity is one of the key aspects of our work at the Secretariat but it strongly depends also on close co-ordination of successive Chairmanships. We are working closely with the incoming Italian Chairmanship and are already engaging with Slovakia on their 2019 OSCE Chairmanship. Through recent exchanges with the Slovak authorities on all levels, I have gained the distinct impression that Slovakia is taking these responsibilities very seriously. I am glad to see both Katarina Žáková and Rado Boháč here among us today. This inspires confidence and I would also want to conclude on a positive note.

A couple of weeks ago at the UN General Assembly, I had over 40 meetings with foreign ministers, high-level UN officials, heads of partner organizations and other senior representatives. The messages I heard from them and the level of access that I enjoyed is a good indicator of the healthy interest that the OSCE is again attracting among OSCE ministers and partners.
In the gloom of the current geopolitical context, I see this as an important encouragement to multiply our efforts to rebuild trust through dialogue and co-operation. I very much look forward to our discussions today.
Thank you.