Statement by Mr. Thorbjørn Jagland Minister of Foreign Affairs, Norway

OSCE Ministerial Meeting

Vienna, 28 November 2000

Mr. Chairman,

This anniversary year has been one of good and not so good news for the OSCE.

Much of the good news comes from the war-torn region of southeastern Europe.

At the beginning of the year, the people of Croatia opted for democracy. And the new government has launched an ambitious program of reform that deserves our full support.

In October, the people of Serbia insisted on breaking the self-imposed isolation of Yugoslavia. They demanded a democratic future.

The democratic revolution in Yugoslavia offers new prospects for peace and prosperity in southeastern Europe.

The reform process in Yugoslavia must not be allowed to falter. This is first and foremost the responsibility of the people of Yugoslavia themselves. But we – the countries gathered around this table – must follow through on our commitments and act upon our promises to the new government in Yugoslavia. There is no time to lose.

All countries in the region must now take full advantage of the democratic changes in Zagreb and Belgrade. We must not fail to create long-term stability and prosperity in the region.

Yet difficult problems remain. The situation in Kosovo has implications for the whole region, and cannot be seen in isolation. Political leaders in Kosovo have a responsibility to end the violence and political intimidation. The people of Kosovo have cast their vote for moderation. We owe it to them to implement the results of the local elections speedily and efficiently. This is the main challenge at hand in Kosovo.

At the same time, we must not go back to dealing with the Balkans in a piecemeal manner. Other governments in the region are also working hard to establish sustainable democracies, and they deserve our continued support. A regional approach is indispensable. The Stability Pact for South Eastern Europe is crucial in this regard.

Mr. Chairman,

We are facing challenges in other parts of the OSCE region as well. We must not allow conflicts to remain deadlocked or frozen. All participating states must honor their commitments. We all have a duty to implement what our heads of state agreed upon in Istanbul. The OSCE Assistance Group must be allowed to return to Chechnya. The commitments we have made in regard to Moldova and Georgia must be honored.

Mr. Chairman,

The Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe was signed ten years ago this month. It has proved to be a cornerstone of stability and security in Europe. We applaud the Agreement on Adaptation signed in Istanbul in November 1999. We urge full implementation by all Parties of the adapted Treaty as a condition for ratification and early entry into force.

The OSCE has been significantly strengthened over the last few years. But much remains to be done. We must become better at identifying conflicts at an early stage. And we must further enhance the operational capabilities of our organization.

We will not succeed in creating long-term peace and stability in Europe unless we address the fundamental problems relating to the rule of law.

We will not succeed in creating long-term peace and stability in Europe unless we effectively combat the illegal trafficking in human beings and fight corruption.

We will not succeed in creating long-term peace and stability in Europe unless we stop the uncontrolled spread of small arms and light weapons.

All these challenges must now be vigorously addressed, and the OSCE must play its part to the full.

Mr. Chairman,

Mr. Max van der Stoel has made the OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities one of the most important institutions of the OSCE. We owe him our deepest gratitude. His will indeed be a hard act to follow.

Finally, I would like to express my gratitude to Foreign Minister Ferrero-Waldner and the Austrian OSCE Chairmanship. And also, Mr. Chairman, to offer you my best wishes for the Romanian OSCE Chairmanship next year.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

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