VIENNA, 11 October 2018 – With one billion citizens of the OSCE area – or 15 per cent of the world’s population – relying on diplomacy to succeed in creating a world free from oppression, discrimination, poverty and violence, political will must be generated to ensure full implementation of OSCE commitments, Assembly President George Tsereteli (MP, Georgia) said today in Vienna.

George Tsereteli addressing the OSCE Permanent Council, 11 October 2018Addressing the OSCE Permanent Council, comprised of the ambassadors of 57 participating States, Tsereteli noted that 2018 marks 100 years since the end of the First World War, which serves as a reminder of the possible consequences of what happens when diplomacy fails.

“There is always a danger that history will repeat itself. At times where there is a lack of constructive political dialogue, we must be mindful of this lesson,” Tsereteli said.

Regretting that the state of health in the OSCE has not improved since the last time he addressed the Permanent Council earlier this year, he stressed that through dialogue, progress can be made in these times of uncertainty and instability.

It is an integral duty of the OSCE to ensure that democracy and the rule of law are respected in all participating States, Tsereteli said, stressing that the PA takes this responsibility seriously.

“We continue to be very worried about the deteriorating human rights situation in several countries and, in particular, about the situation of the media, which are confronted with multiple threats,” Tsereteli said.

He noted that the consensus-based decision-making procedure that the OSCE relies on has its strengths but cautioned that the consensus model can be a weakness when the single-country veto is misused.

The President highlighted the important role that the OSCE plays in the field, expressed the PA’s appreciation for the work done by the OSCE’s Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine, and noted that the South Caucasus would benefit from reopening OSCE field presences.

“It is the OSCE’s paradox that in the South Caucasus, where each of our three participating States have suffered from war and where the OSCE is most needed, the OSCE is absent,” he said.

Tsereteli described his diplomatic visits carried out as President, noting that he has been to Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Denmark, Germany, Italy, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Turkey, Ukraine and the United Kingdom. “All these high-level meetings are useful to remind of OSCE commitments and deepen our partnerships,” he said.

He discussed his trip to Ukraine, which included a visit to the contact line, where the PA delegation heard moving testimonies from those living in the area immediately impacted by the hostilities. He reiterated the need to improve conditions for civilians in the area who are directly affected by ceasefire violations and mine explosions.

The PA President also took the opportunity to highlight recent activities of the Assembly, including the Autumn Meeting that was held last week in Bishkek and the PA’s participation in the OSCE Human Dimension Implementation Meeting last month in Warsaw, as well as upcoming election observation missions to Georgia and the United States.

He expressed gratitude to the Italian OSCE Chairmanship, the OSCE Secretariat, Institutions and Missions, for the close co-operation and support of the PA, and expressed high hopes for Slovakia’s Chairmanship of the OSCE next year.

During the question and answer session, exchanges with OSCE ambassadors echoed concerns over the general state of the Organization, and the inability to achieve progress in solving conflicts in the OSCE area.

Permanent Council delegates underlined President Tsereteli’s proactive leadership to promote OSCE principles and values. They also recognized the value of the OSCE PA in fostering exchanges and generating the political will to uphold OSCE commitments, and thanked OSCE parliamentarians for their advocacy on behalf of the Organization and its field missions, in particular.

President Tsereteli and OSCE ambassadors also discussed the PA's internal reforms, election observation activities and co-operation with the ODIHR, and perspectives for stronger OSCE PA engagement in the South Caucasus.

While he was in Vienna, the President also participated in the Inter-Parliamentary Conference for the Common Foreign and Security Policy and the Common Security and Defence Policy, where he spoke this afternoon at the workshop “OSCE a Key Partner in the East West Dialogue.” In his remarks, he noted that the OSCE’s inclusiveness is one its strongest assets.

“All its members, whether major players or micro-States, are on an equal level when it comes to OSCE decision-making,” said Tsereteli.

For President Tsereteli’s full remarks to the Permanent Council, please click here.