OSCE Summit

President Demirel, Your excellencies, Ladies and gentlemen.

For 25 years, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, and its forerunner, have served us well.

The OSCE has helped build common security and stability, from Vancouver to Vladivostok. With the OSCE, we have agreed arms reductions and confidence building measures, which for all practical purposes have eliminated the risk of major war in our area. We have established shared standards for human rights, and made respecting them a concern for us all. The OSCE provides us with a forum for consultations and cooperation on major challenges facing us.

The OSCE has become nothing less than indispensable.

Today, in this historic city, we look ahead, and define the tasks for the OSCE in the next century.

These should be our priorities:

• 1. We must strengthen conflict prevention: Open conflicts mean political failure. The military option is the costliest one - in resources and in human suffering. The lesson learnt is this: We must redouble our efforts to diffuse tension and contain disputes before they turn into open conflict. REACT, The Rapid Expert Assistance and Cooperation Teams, is a valuable addition to the mechanisms we have.
• 2. We must redefine our perception of conflict: The risk of conflict between states is greatly reduced. Violence more often comes from within states – from ethnic, political or religious extremism. Willingness from the participating states to accept mediation and assistance is therefore crucial.
• 3. We must strengthen compliance: Too often there is a gap between principles and practise. We must heed commitments, accept greater transparency, and continue to develop joint mechanisms which make sure that what we declare, is what we do.
• 4. We must uphold human rights and fundamental freedoms: The human dimension will continue to be the core of the OSCE. Without respect for human rights, there can be neither true security nor genuine stability. It must include full respect for minority rights, and efforts for greater equality between men and women. The Summit declaration has captured the essence when it says: - The aim of all our efforts is to make a difference in the life of the individual.
• 5. We must share in prosperity: Inequalities in economic development have replaced confrontation as a major threat to stability. We must maximise our efforts to eliminate the prosperity gap. The more affluent among us can and should do more to make this a reality.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

With the adoption of the Security Charter we have strengthened our collective ability to prevent, contain and resolve crises.

I welcome the agreement on the adapted Treaty on Conventional Forces in Europe. The CFE has played, and will continue to play, a decisive role in promoting stability and peace in the OSCE area.

The situation in Chechnya is a matter of grave concern. We fully respect the territorial integrity of the Russian Federation. We condemn terrorism, and recognize the right to combat this scourge. But we cannot close our eyes to indiscriminate use of force, and the alarming humanitarian situation now unfolding. We expect an end to the violence. We urge the Russian authorities to open up for international humanitarian assistance, and to seek a political solution. We welcome the decision that the OSCE Chairman in Office will visit the area. The OSCE stands ready to assist.

We hope that UN High Commissioner for Refugees, Sadako Ogata’s visit yesterday will open up for the necessary humanitarian assistance to the victims of the crisis in Chechnya.

The military equipment deployed in Northern Caucasus exceeds the limits of the adapted CFE-treaty as we sign it. That is serious. Prime Minister Putin’s declaration during his recent visit to Oslo, where he underlined Russia’s commitment to transparency and the desire to reduce the force deployments as soon as possible, was a welcome step. It must now be followed up.

The Stability Pact for Southeastern Europe provides a unique opportunity to prevent new conflicts in the Balkans. This process is underway, but it must move faster. The states in the region must drive the process forward, with strong support from the international community.

The dialogue taking place at the very highest level between Armenia and Azerbaijan over Nagorno Karabakh gives rise to optimism. We hope this will soon lead to real results.

I welcome the OSCE’s strategy for Central Asia. It marks the first step in a comprehensive effort to meet the concerns of a region with great potential.

I wish to thank Turkey for excellent arrangements for this Summit. You have done this while at the same time having to cope with the ordeal of the earthquakes. I express our sincere sympathy with the people and government of Turkey.

As Head of Government of the country which holds the Chairmanship, I would like to express our sincere thanks to all members of our OSCE community for their contributions to our joint efforts during this year.

It has been a challenging year. We will continue to face serious challenges - in the Balkans, in the Caucasus, and elsewhere.

Together, we share the responsibility to meet these challenges, with common resolve, and the necessary resources. Together we must make the vision of a Europe whole and free become reality.

Thank you.