Opinions & Interviews

MINSK, 7 December (BelTA) - We should fully use the potential of the OSCE to curb the risk of military confrontation in Europe, Belarus’ Minister of Foreign Affairs Vladimir Makei said at the 24th meeting of the OSCE Ministerial Council in Vienna, BelTA learned from the press service of the Belarusian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The deep crisis of European security is continuing, polarization is growing, trust is eroding, and challenges are multiplying, Vladimir Makei noted. “What should be done to stop this trend and bring about the lasting stability, and what is the role for the OSCE? First, we need to send a strong political message that the OSCE does matter as a unique forum for inclusive security dialogue. We should fully use its potential to curb the risk of military confrontation in Europe. Belarus favors the development of a new conventional arms control regime adapted to current realities. We support the ongoing structured dialogue on current and future risks to security and stand ready to further contribute to it,” the minister said.

The diplomat believes that the role of the OSCE should be strengthened in building partnerships to combat a range of complex transnational threats and challenges such as terrorism, cybercrime, human and drug trafficking or migration.

“The OSCE can do more to foster connectivity by promoting economic cooperation, trade facilitation, transport links and digital agenda. We need a dialogue, not a clash of economic integration processes. The platform of our organization is well fit for nurturing such a dialogue,” Vladimir Makei noted.

The minister also recalled the initiative of Belarus President to launch the “new Helsinki process” – a wide dialogue on overcoming the existing contradictions and mistrust in relations between countries in our common Euro-Atlantic and Eurasian space.

According to the diplomat, Belarus will continue to provide support for every constructive effort to find common ground in all three dimensions of security and to expand cooperative agenda in the OSCE. “In this regard, we count on the political will of all participating states and on the contribution of the new heads of the OSCE Secretariat and Institutions appointed by consensus last July. Together we should re-energize the OSCE being guided by the spirit of joint ownership and to make the organization up to the current challenges,” the minister noted.