Positive assessment for Swiss OSCE Chairmanship
Bern, 27.05.2015 - The Swiss Federal Council has given a positive assessment of Switzerland’s Chairmanship of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) in 2014, with useful contributions being made to promoting security and cooperation in Europe in spite of the Ukraine crisis. In this spirit, the Federal Council approved the FDFA’s final report on the Swiss OSCE Chairmanship. This report indicates that while the OSCE could not prevent the conflict in Ukraine, it has managed to substantially de-escalate it. As well as this crisis, there were other focal issues where Switzerland came up with cooperation-based proposed solutions, covering such areas as fighting terrorism while respecting human rights, and disaster protection.
The final report on the Swiss OSCE Chairmanship shows that Switzerland, despite limited resources, managed to demonstrate its ability to make key contributions in this role. At the same time, the Chairmanship succeeded in making the OSCE the main international crisis-management player and effectively using the instruments at its disposal. While the OSCE could not prevent the Ukraine crisis, the organisation has de-escalated it and made key contributions to resolving the conflict, with the OSCE observation mission producing independent reports each day and the Trilateral Contact Group of senior representatives of Ukraine, the Russian Federation and of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office establishing itself as the main forum for discussions and negotiations and forming the framework for the conclusion of the Minsk agreements that, among other things, provided for a ceasefire.
Despite the confrontational atmosphere in Europe, Switzerland was able to come up with cooperation-based proposed solutions for various key issues. These included the fight against terrorism while respecting human rights obligations, the protection of those defending human rights and the involvement of civil society. Moreover, it managed to put issues such as reform of the security sector, disaster protection and youth involvement on the OSCE policy agenda and launch initiatives that had previously proven problematic in the OSCE context. In the Western Balkans, progress is being made in the work on dealing with the past, and as regards the frozen conflicts in the Southern Caucasus and in the Republic of Moldova, it is encouraging to note that there has been no significant deterioration in the security situation in light of the Ukraine crisis.
Through its Chairmanship of the OSCE, Switzerland managed to forge close relations with Serbia as regards cooperation, a situation which has ensured greater continuity now that the latter holds the OSCE Chairmanship. Indeed, during 2015 the OSCE Chairperson’s Special Delegate for the Western Balkans, the Southern Caucasus and Ukraine is a Swiss national and as such, efforts begun under the Swiss Chairmanship can be driven forward. Cooperation has also been fostered with Germany, which is due to take over the OSCE Chairmanship in 2016.
The overall costs associated with holding the Chairmanship of the OSCE are anticipated to be in the region of CHF 27.6 million, i.e. CHF 1 million less than originally projected. Included in this figure are the costs of the OSCE Ministerial Council held in Basel in December 2014. The fact that the event was attended by a record number of participants – 53 ministers and over 1,800 delegation members, as well as representatives of civil society and the media – demonstrates the high regard in which it is held. The Council culminated in 21 decisions and declarations being adopted. Through its Chairmanship of the OSCE, Switzerland has not only addressed one of the key issues of its national foreign-policy strategy, but has also consolidated its crucial foreign-policy action framework. Thanks to its dedication and commitment, Switzerland has enhanced the credibility of its foreign policy.
The report is to be forwarded to the Foreign Affairs Committees of the Swiss Parliament’s Upper and Lower Chambers respectively.
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