Opening statement at the OSCE summit in Astana

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President Nazarbayev,

Representing the country that held the chairmanship at the last OSCE Summit in Istanbul in 1999, it is a great honour for me, on behalf of the Norwegian Government, to deliver Norway’s contribution to this summit.

Mr President,

You set an ambitious agenda for Kazakhstan’s chairmanship, and I would like to congratulate you on the results already achieved. Let me also thank you for the hospitality extended to us here in Astana.

Mr President, to my generation the Helsinki Final Act brought hope. Perhaps we can date the beginning of the end of the Cold War to the signing of the Final Act in 1975. Much has changed since then in the Euro-Atlantic region, mostly for the better. During these 35 years the key principles of Helsinki have been with us; the comprehensive approach to security and advancement of society, the integral part played by human rights.

Let us recall that they continue to be matters of direct and legitimate concern to all participating states, and do not belong exclusively to the internal affairs of the state concerned.

I would like to make four key observations on the challenges ahead:

First, we need to uphold the strengths and values of this organisation and its ability to provide inspiration, and the legacy of the Helsinki Final Act.

The OSCE is the world’s largest security organisation – not based on military power, but on the building of trust between countries and respect for human rights.

Looking beyond our region it is tempting to say that other regions could benefit from our experience. What if the Middle East had the same web of organisations and platforms for parliamentarians, ministers and civil society to meet – fostering mutual dependency, transparency and security?

Our duty is to preserve the strengths of the OSCE while we move forward to face new challenges. New threats have emerged. Partnerships and cooperation with emerging powers, like China and India, are being developed. The OSCE is uniquely placed in this new context.

Here is, I believe, the core of our cooperation: conflict prevention, early warning, conflict resolution, post-conflict rehabilitation, protection of minorities and operational attention to ensure the continued integrity of member states’ democratic institutions.

I commend the Kazakh chairmanship for its response to the situation in the Kyrgyz Republic this summer. However, there are still protracted conflicts waiting for their solution. Likewise, the war in Georgia in 2008 was a setback. Key values and principles were violated, as was the territorial integrity of an OSCE member state. This fact cannot be put aside.

My second point concerns the need to pay attention to the comprehensive security concept.

We cannot enjoy full security without respect for basic freedoms like freedom of assembly, expression, religion or belief.

Our enduring responsibility is to secure that these rights are real and applicable to all our citizens. I welcome the substantial NGO contributions and the conference organised here this weekend. Active participation of civil society is key. While we have reasons to celebrate at this crossroads, challenges remain in member states of our organisation – such as obstruction of the freedom of expression and other fundamental rights.

The OSCE is making a difference in this regard, through the ODIHR, the High Commissioner on National Minorities, and the Representative on the Freedom of the Media. These institutions must be secured and strengthened if needed.

OSCE election observation missions deliver solid assessments and recommendations. National follow-up must be effective. Norway, for its part, has worked closely with ODIHR in the follow-up on our last parliamentary elections in 2009.

I also commend the High Commissioner on National Minorities, in particular for his Bolzano/Bozen recommendations on how to deal with the issue of national minorities in interstate relations in such a way as to avoid conflicts and foster good neighbourly relations.

Third, we must demonstrate ability to take on transnational threats.

The OSCE is making a valuable contribution in Afghanistan. The OSCE can play an important role in combating international terrorism and organised crime. OSCE programmes for police reform, border security and fighting trafficking are especially relevant.

A new useful tool is the OSCE Border Management Staff College in Dushanbe. Norway is proud to be among the major contributors.

Fourth, we must demonstrate our effectiveness in dealing with arms control and security and confidence-building measures.

I welcome the updating and strengthening of the Vienna Document of 1999. Although results so far are limited, this is a step in the right direction, and the work needs to be continued in 2011. 

Europe needs to further develop and modernise arms control in order to improve security, stability and predictability for us all. Norway will support the efforts to revitalise the CFE regime and put conventional arms control back on track.

Finally, President Nazarbayev, once again I pay tribute to you, and to my friend and colleague Foreign Minister Saudabayev. I welcome the agreement on Ukraine’s chairmanship in 2013, and extend my best wishes to Lithuania and Ireland for their chairmanship periods in 2011 and 2012 respectively.