The biggest challenge for the OSCE and as such Slovenia's priority in 2005 is "the triple-R agenda: revitalise, reform and rebalance". This is what Foreign Minister Dimitrij Rupel said on Thursday as he addressed the OSCE Permanent Council in Vienna.
Rupel, appearing before the Council as the OSCE chairman-in-office, also voiced the hope that during its chairmanship Slovenia would "bridge the divide" and "address the discontent". "We must work together to prevent political fault lines from reappearing."
The new global security, political and economic challenges call for OSCE reform, Rupel said as he presented Slovenia's priorities to the permanent representatives of the 55 countries participating in the security organisation.
"The organisation needs to be reformed, particularly in terms of redefining some of our priorities, refocusing our effort and strengthening the relationship between the secretariat and the chairmanship."
Rupel also highlighted the importance of OSCE field missions. "Missions are the jewel in the crown of the OSCE and we should make every effort to ensure that they maintain their effectiveness."
Responding to the criticism of Russia and its allies, which have accused the organisation of using double standards, Rupel called for balancing all three OSCE dimensions: security, economic and environmental issues and human rights.
Speaking about the political and military agenda, Rupel called for pursing efforts in combating terrorism and tackling problems of surplus of conventional ammunition, small arms and light weapons, as well as ensuring border security.
"Our commitment to the human dimension must remain. The human dimension is at the core of the OSCE activities..." Migration and integration will be one of the main topics of Slovenia's presidency, Rupel said, and added that attention would be paid to the needs of children, victims of human trafficking. He also believes the organisation should build on the work on tolerance and non-discrimination completed in 2004.
Speaking about how Slovenia would revitalise the world's largest regional organisation, Rupel said, "one of Slovenia's first priorities will be to broker an agreement on a budget and scales".
The OSCE chair underscored the need to make the organisation financially sound, saying there was no alternative to funding it. "If we believe in the OSCE, we must find appropriate funds for it," Rupel said.
If the OSCE is not given the resources it requires to carry out decisions that have been taken, the integrity and security of the participating states could be threatened, Rupel warned.
He also called for reaching agreement on the appointment of a new secretary general of the organisation as the term of the incumbent Jan Kubis end this year. Rupel believes that the organisation cannot lose time on this process.
Another priority for Slovenia will be to consolidate work that has been done in the Balkans, Rupel said. "The OSCE should concentrate on its strengths and target its activities and resources where they can have the highest impact." Rupel quoted efforts for the return of refugees, protection of national minorities, capacity building and elections.
Another major issue in 2005 will be Kosovo. The OSCE has by far its biggest mission situated there and it spends 20 percent of its budget on it. Rupel believes that the OSCE should also be actively involved in the standards review process and any re-structuring of the international presence in Kosovo.
After the OSCE sent its biggest ever election observer mission to Ukraine's re-run election, there is a good chance to strengthen cooperation. Rupel sees the potential for this across a range of issues including freedom of the media, national minorities, democratisation, the political-military dimension and regional security.
Rupel also sees some grounds for optimism in the Caucasus, especially in the Nagorno-Karabakh. Furthermore, Slovenia's foreign minister prioritised efforts to find solutions to conflicts in South Ossetia, Abkhazia and the Transdneister Republic.
In Central Asia, Rupel sees a need for a greater effort to control migration, promote human rights education, strengthen human security, and increase border management and security cooperation, such as de-mining and human trafficking. He also believes the OSCE should do more to assist the governments there in their democratisation processes.
Rupel highlighted that OSCE election observers monitored the recent presidential election in Afghanistan as the first country outside the OSCE region. The organisation has also sent a team of experts to the Palestinian poll to establish how the OSCE can help in the future parliamentary election there.
"Slovenia takes the helm of this ship in choppy seas," Rupel said, but he nevertheless voiced the hope that the country would be able to bridge the divisions among the participating states.
"What we have in common is much greater than the points on which we differ," Rupel said in an optimistic vein, noting that the success of the presidency would depend on initiatives, political will and decisions of the participating states.
Rupel laid out the priorities of Slovenia's presidency at the first session of the OSCE Permanent Council after Slovenia took over the helm of the organisation from Bulgaria on 1 January.
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