OSCE Parliamentary Assembly President Margareta Cederfelt (Sweden) addressed the OSCE Permanent Council today, reiterating the importance of standing up for shared values and responding to violations of international law. As the 50th anniversary of the Helsinki Final Act approaches, she underlined, all participating States must work towards implementation of their OSCE commitments.
At the same time, she stressed the point that Chairman-in-Office and Polish Foreign Minister Zbigniew Rau has been making since last February – that the organization cannot operate with a “business as usual” approach as the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine is blatantly violated.
The Russian Federation’s war in Ukraine constitutes “the most severe assault on European security since the signing of the Helsinki Final Act,” Cederfelt told the OSCE ambassadors in Vienna, with “widespread implications for the whole OSCE region and beyond.”
The OSCE PA President recalled some of the consequences of this aggression for the people of Ukraine: “Indiscriminate missile strikes on civilian infrastructure. Cities nearly totally destroyed. Thousands of civilians buried under rubble. Millions displaced or deported. In the occupied territories: summary executions, torture, pillage, and looting. Widespread reports of war crimes and of crimes against humanity.”
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She expressed appreciation for the upcoming OSCE Chairmanship of North Macedonia, noting that taking the helm of the OSCE at such a time of turmoil “is an act of courage and valour.” Cederfelt highlighted her visit to Skopje next month to cement the PA’s support for North Macedonia’s Chairmanship and strengthen synergies.
While it remains focused on the war in Ukraine, Cederfelt said that the OSCE must not overlook the many domains where it can make a difference in people’s lives. “This remains our main drive as parliamentarians,” she said, noting that the Birmingham Declaration adopted at the OSCE PA’s Annual Session in July outlines priorities for OSCE engagement, with the support of parliaments and governments.
“Together, we must do more to combat global warming and accelerate the clean energy transition,” Cederfelt said. “We must continue to defend the socio-economic wellbeing of our populations. We must carry on defending individual rights and freedoms. Together, we can promote inclusive societies.”
The President also spoke about the recent resurgence of fighting between Armenia and Azerbaijan, which she stressed recalls the need to work towards a long-term cessation of hostilities. “We must give diplomacy a chance to prevail over the use of force,” she said.
Following her speech, representatives from 15 OSCE delegations took the floor to respond to points she raised, including issues related to the war in Ukraine and the situation in the South Caucasus, as well as possible changes to the PA’s Rules of Procedure and debate over appropriate measures to sanction participating States that violate the Helsinki Final Act. Many Permanent Representatives expressed appreciation for the work of the Assembly and welcomed further co-operation with the OSCE’s parliamentary dimension.
While in Vienna, President Cederfelt met with the Permanent Representative of Ukraine, Amb. Yevhenii Tsymbaliuk; the Permanent Representative of Poland, Amb. Adam Halaciňski; the Charge d’Affaires of the United States, Courtney Austrian; and the Permanent Representative of North Macedonia, Amb. Igor Djundev. She also had an opportunity to exchange views with students from the Warsaw Diplomatic Academy.
This afternoon, Cederfelt addressed the inaugural meeting of the OSCE PA Women’s Network, welcoming the initiative and encouraged active participation of both women and men parliamentarians in identifying gender issues and working together to advance gender equality in the OSCE region.
For President Cederfelt’s full remarks at the Permanent Council, please click here.
