As delivered by Ambassador Daniel B. Baer to the Permanent Council,
Vienna, June 5, 2014
Before beginning, I must say that I found our distinguished Russian colleague’s statement to be confusing, given that he started by criticizing the alleged politicization of the conversation about this agenda, then launched into a diatribe of issues that Russia has every ability to raise when it wants to — of course including at the conference — but which are not relevant to the agenda under discussion today.
We welcome today’s adoption of the agenda of the Annual Security Review Conference (ASRC). Russia’s ongoing violation of Ukraine’s territorial integrity and sovereignty, as well as its violations of other OSCE principles and commitments, make the ASRC this year particularly relevant. We are facing an unprecedented challenge to security and stability in the OSCE region.
We especially would like to thank our Ukrainian colleagues for their constructiveness and readiness to engage in compromise to find a way forward on the ASRC agenda, particularly in light of the challenges and threats it is currently facing.
We also express our deep disappointment that a discussion on the resolution of protracted conflicts was not included on the agenda. This is regrettable.
The events in Ukraine, and the growing perception of regional instability caused by Russia’s actions, make resolution of the protracted conflicts even more important to the agenda of the OSCE. We trust the Chairmanship will make every effort to ensure that an opportunity is provided to address the protracted conflicts during this event.
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
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