Margareta Cederfelt addresses the OSCE Permanent Council in Vienna, 20 January 2022 Photo: Micky Kroell/OSCEVIENNA, 20 January 2022 – One week after Poland assumed the Chairmanship of the OSCE and in the midst of intensifying crises facing the OSCE region, Parliamentary Assembly President Margareta Cederfelt (Sweden) today addressed the Permanent Council of 57 Permanent Representatives in Vienna with a call for revitalizing the organization.

Underlining that complex issues such as the tensions on the Ukrainian-Russian border require patience, diplomacy and political will, Cederfelt urged that consultations on European security be as inclusive as possible. “European security cannot be discussed without Europeans,” the President stressed, pointing out that this inclusivity is a hallmark of the OSCE.

She noted that there is room for debate on how European security can evolve, but this discussion must remain rooted in the principles of international law and the Helsinki Final Act.

Regarding the crisis in and around Ukraine, the OSCE PA President stressed that the Assembly’s positions have been clear and reiterated on numerous occasions since 2014. “We have repeatedly condemned the Russian violation of Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity,” she said. “We have repeatedly called for a comprehensive settlement of the conflict based on full implementation of the Minsk Agreements.”

Cederfelt urged OSCE participating States to find consensus to extend the mandate of the Special Monitoring Mission in Ukraine and to guarantee the safe, secured, and unhindered access of monitors throughout its territory. “We must also work together to maximize the use of all OSCE tools to prevent and resolve tensions,” she said.

The President stressed that progress is easier to achieve with genuine political will, which is true not only when it comes to Ukraine but all the other conflicts and challenges in the OSCE area. The security situation remains precarious also in the South Caucasus, in Afghanistan and in Central Asia. “As painfully illustrated by the events in Kazakhstan earlier this month, we must remain vigilant,” Cederfelt said. She noted that the PA has called on the Belarusian authorities to rethink their approach to dissent and engage with the opposition, rather than harass and intimidate them.

She also discussed the COVID-19 pandemic and the threat it poses to healthcare systems and other vital functions. Noting the discontent seen in many countries with the restrictions on daily life, Cederfelt stressed the need to find a reasonable balance between protecting public health and ensuring the return as soon as possible to respect for fundamental rights and democratic principles.

Cederfelt welcomed the ascension of Poland to the OSCE Chairmanship and expressed agreement with assessments offered by Foreign Minister Zbigniew Rau last week in his inaugural address as CiO. She reiterated the PA’s readiness to support the planning and implementation of an OSCE Summit, pointing out that OSCE parliamentarians have always been advocates of high-level discussion on the work and future of the organization.

“The OSCE PA has spared no efforts to build bridges and promote avenues for dialogue,” Cederfelt said. “This is the message we have shared with all members on several occasions and that I will bring with me in planned visits to Moscow, Washington DC, and Kyiv, this spring.”

During the Q&A session following her speech, the President addressed questions related to the OSCE PA’s election observation activities and its “Call for Action – Helsinki +50” events. She noted that these events are valuable opportunities for diplomatic representatives in Vienna, representatives of OSCE institutions, and parliamentarians to come together to revive the work of the OSCE.

Minister of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan Mukhtar Tileuberdi and OSCE PA President Margareta Cederfelt in Vienna, 19 January 2022While in Vienna, Cederfelt is holding a series of bilateral meetings, discussing OSCE matters with nearly 20 Permanent Representatives of participating States and exploring areas where the Parliamentary Assembly can assist in developing multilateral solutions to security challenges facing the OSCE area.

In a meeting Wednesday with Kazakhstan’s Foreign Minister, Mukhtar Tileuberdi, Cederfelt emphasized the need for a transparent investigation into the events earlier this month, and was assured that Kazakhstan’s authorities would provide all the evidence and outcomes of the ongoing investigation to the international community. Cederfelt stressed that the PA would remain engaged on the situation, including through the work of its Special Representative on Central Asia, Finnish parliamentarian Pia Kauma, who is planning a possible visit to the country.

For a PDF version of President Cederfelt’s address to the PC, please click here.

Video of her speech is available on YouTube.

Photos of her ongoing visit to Vienna, including bilateral meetings, can be found on Flickr.