On the Scales of Contribution for 2019 (PC.DD/8/19)
As delivered by Chargé d’Affaires, a.i. Harry R. Kamian
to the Permanent Council, Vienna
April 11, 2019
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
The United States wishes to make an interpretative statement under paragraph IV.1(A)6 of the Rules of Procedure of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe.
In joining consensus on this OSCE Scales of Contributions decision for 2019, the United States has made no commitment regarding the U.S. contribution beyond this period. OSCE Permanent Council Decision No. 408, adopted in 2001, established a 14-percent ceiling for the field operations scale. The logic behind the ceiling remains valid, and we see no reason for changing it. Furthermore, we recall the significance of the concept of shared responsibilities for both the standard and field operations scales, and intend to participate in future discussions on that basis. Moreover, it is our long-held view that all five criteria applied to the OSCE scales of contribution — capacity to pay; the OSCE’s political nature; ceilings; floors; and UN Gross National Income data — remain of equal weight. If the OSCE scales are opened for negotiation beyond 2019, the United States will insist on decreases for both the standard and field operations scales.
We request that this statement be attached to this decision and recorded in the journal of the day.
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
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