[Joint House and Senate Hearing, 114 Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
SERBIA'S LEADERSHIP OF THE OSCE
=======================================================================
HEARING
before the
COMMISSION ON SECURITY AND COOPERATION IN EUROPE
ONE HUNDRED FOURTEENTH CONGRESS
FIRST SESSION
__________
FEBRUARY 25, 2015
__________
Printed for the use of the
Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe
[CSCE 114-1-1]
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COMMISSION ON SECURITY AND COOPERATION IN EUROPE
LEGISLATIVE BRANCH COMMISSIONERS
HOUSE
SENATE
CHRISTOPHER H. SMITH, New Jersey, ROGER F. WICKER, Mississippi,
Chairman Co-Chairman
ALCEE L. HASTINGS, Florida BENJAMIN L. CARDIN, Maryland
ROBERT B. ADERHOLT, Alabama JOHN BOOZMAN, Arkansas
MICHAEL C. BURGESS, Texas RICHARD BURR, North Carolina
STEVE COHEN, Tennessee JEANNE SHAHEEN, New Hampshire
JOSEPH R. PITTS, Pennsylvania TOM UDALL, New Mexico
LOUISE McINTOSH SLAUGHTER, SHELDON WHITEHOUSE, Rhode Island
New York
EXECUTIVE BRANCH COMMISSIONERS
Department of State
Department of Commerce
Department of Defense
[ii]
SERBIA'S LEADERSHIP OF THE OSCE
----------
February 25, 2015
COMMISSIONERS
Page
Hon. Christopher H. Smith, Chairman, Commission on Security and
Cooperation in Europe.......................................... 1
Hon. Alcee L. Hastings, Ranking Member, Commission on Security
and Cooperation in Europe...................................... 3
Hon. Benjamin L. Cardin, Ranking Member, Commission on Security
and Cooperation in Europe...................................... 3
Hon. Joseph R. Pitts, Commissioner, Commission on Security and
Cooperation in Europe.......................................... 4
Hon. Steven Cohen, Commissioner, Commission on Security and
Cooperation in Europe.......................................... 10
WITNESSES
His Excellency Ivica Dacic, Chairperson-in-Office of the OSCE,
First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs,
Republic of Serbia............................................. 5
APPENDICES
Prepared statement of Hon. Christopher H. Smith.................. 14
Prepared statement of Hon. Roger Wicker.......................... 15
Prepared statement of Ivica Dacic................................ 16
[iii]
SERBIA'S LEADERSHIP OF THE OSCE
----------
February 25, 2015
Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe
Washington, DC
The hearing was held at 2:40 p.m. in room 2200, Rayburn
House Office Building, Washington, DC, Hon. Christopher H.
Smith, Chairman, Commission on Security and Cooperation in
Europe, presiding.
Commissioners present: Hon. Christopher H. Smith, Chairman,
Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe; Hon. Alcee L.
Hastings, Ranking Member, Commission on Security and
Cooperation in Europe; Hon. Benjamin L. Cardin, Ranking Member,
Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe; Hon. Joseph
R. Pitts, Commissioner, Commission on Security and Cooperation
in Europe; and Hon. Steve Cohen, Commissioner, Commission on
Security and Cooperation in Europe.
Witnesses present: Ivica Dacic, Chairperson-in-Office of
the OSCE, First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign
Affairs, Republic of Serbia.
HON. CHRISTOPHER H. SMITH, CHAIRMAN, COMMISSION ON SECURITY AND
COOPERATION IN EUROPE
The Commission will come to order, and good afternoon to
everybody. I want to welcome everyone joining us this
afternoon, especially to His Excellency, First Deputy Prime
Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Ivica Dacic, who is
also the Chairman-in-Office for the OSCE.
Your chairmanship this year of the Organization for
Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) comes at a moment of
tragedy, of tremendous human suffering in the region. One OSCE
member, the Russian Government, is tearing the heart out of a
neighboring member, as we all know, Ukraine.
Today there are more than 5,600 dead and almost 1.5 million
internally displaced persons in Ukraine, with no end in sight.
Russian weapons, special forces and all sorts of shady Russian-
led mercenaries, proxies and criminal gangs are creating vast
ill-defined and constantly shifting zones of outright war,
lower-level conflict and chaos.
These zones are home to millions of men, women and children
who live there, or at least try to. Only a few days ago, Bishop
Shevchuk, patriarch of the Ukrainian Catholic Church, called it
the greatest humanitarian catastrophe in Eastern Europe since
the end of World War II.
Your Excellency, we will look forward to hearing from you
today about what the OSCE, under your chairmanship, proposes to
do to respond to the humanitarian needs--of course, some of
this you're already doing--and to the Russian aggression. We'll
be especially interested to hear about the special monetary
mission and the Minsk agreements.
Although the latest Minsk agreements were signed only two
weeks ago, there are already serious violations. For example,
last week the people of the rail town Debaltseve were subject
to shelling and their city was captured, in violation of the
Minsk agreements. Russia and its proxies must adhere to the
Minsk agreements and immediately stop all cease-fire
violations, allow OSCE monitors access to where they need to
be, and withdraw heavy weapons from the front lines.
Understanding that the OSCE is a consensus organization,
meaning that the Russian Government has an effective veto over
many significant actions, we believe the OSCE is still able and
responsible to speak the truth about the conflict to find ways
to mitigate it and to help the people of Ukraine.
Our government will support you in this, I can assure you.
They already are. And certainly the Co-Chairman, Roger Wicker,
Ranking Senator Ben Cardin, who is here and was in Ukraine
several months ago--all of us together will do everything we
can to support you, Mr. Chairman.
I look forward to also hearing about fighting human
trafficking and anti-Semitism, issues that we discussed when we
met last week at the Winter Meeting of the OSCE Parliamentary
Assembly. In my capacity as the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly
Special Representative for Human Trafficking Issues, I hope to
be able to work with you and to update internal OSCE
regulations so that, ``No activities of the OSCE executive
structures, including contracts for goods and services,
contribute to any form of trafficking in persons.'' That was
agreed on, as you know, at the Kyiv ministerial decision in
2013. I look forward to the support of the Serbian chairmanship
to ensure institutional commitment from the OSCE that matches
the magnitude of the challenge we face in combating
modern-day slavery.
To speak for a moment about domestic issues in Serbia, I
know that we spoke about this the other day. But it is
important that we all take a lead--whether it be in the United
States or in Serbia or anywhere else--to combat human
trafficking.
Again, I recommend that you and your staff look very
carefully at the Trafficking in Persons (TIP) Report put out by
the U.S. Department of State. It is a very fine statement of
what is actually going on, on the prevention side, the
prosecution side of traffickers, and the protection for the
victims.
We also look forward to working with you on implementing
the recommendations of the Berlin +10 Conference, to make sure
that the escalating anti-Semitism that is happening throughout
Europe, and really throughout the world, is combated as
robustly as humanly possible. I'd like to now yield to Mr.
Hastings.
HON. ALCEE L. HASTINGS, RANKING MEMBER, COMMISSION ON SECURITY
AND COOPERATION IN EUROPE
Mr. Chairman, in light of time I'd like to welcome our
presenter, but I have to go to the Rules Committee shortly, so
I'll defer to Senator Cardin and look forward to hearing from
our witness.
HON. BENJAMIN L. CARDIN, RANKING MEMBER, COMMISSION ON SECURITY
AND COOPERATION IN EUROPE
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chair-in-Office, thank you
very much for your commitment to the OSCE. You have major
responsibilities in Serbia, and yet you find time to use your
leadership to help the OSCE. We are very appreciative of that.
I apologize, because I'm not going to be able to stay very
long. We have a major problem on the floor of the United States
Senate dealing with the funding of our homeland security, but I
wanted to be here to underscore the bipartisan support for the
Helsinki Commission and the OSCE and the bicameral support, the
Senate and the House, in the work of the OSCE and the Helsinki
Commission.
All three baskets are critical at this time. Congressman
Smith mentioned the challenge we have on security with the
Russian incursion into Ukraine, taking over Crimea and the
problems in eastern Ukraine. It doesn't end there; Russian
incursions in Georgia and their interference in Moldova are
fundamental challenges to the principles of the OSCE and must
be one of your highest priorities.
On the economic and environmental front, we have challenges
with energy; we have global climate issues. You'll have a full
opportunity to advance your regional interests in the economic
and environmental side. On human rights, which has really been,
I think, a hallmark of the OSCE, we are proud of the work that
the U.S. Helsinki Commission has done. I thank Chairman Smith
for his commitment to ridding the world of modern-day slavery
and trafficking in persons, and his role as an OSCE PA special
representative in that regard.
We are proud of the work the OSCE has done on tolerance and
the three personal representatives of the chair that deal with
the tolerance agenda. We are proud of the initiatives on
transparency to deal with corruption, including in the
extractive industries. And we are pleased of the efforts that
have been made to deal with individual human rights violators,
which we call the Magnitsky sanctions here in our country. All
of these initiatives have been worked under the Helsinki
Commission and the OSCE.
We strongly support the work of the Office of Democratic
Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) and look forward to the
advancement of the human rights issues. The OSCE monitoring
missions are critically important to regional security. And the
election monitoring is a critical function in making sure that
we have free and fair elections.
Mr. Chairman, I was last week in Central America. I had a
chance to meet with some that will be involved in Panama, where
the Summit of the Americas will take place in April under the
auspices of the Organization of American States (OAS). OAS,
like OSCE, is a regional organization that operates by
consensus. And I must tell you, they were envious of the
effectiveness of OSCE versus OAS. I tried to tell them about
the bureaucracy in Vienna, but they still felt that we had an
advantage.
There's an interesting difference between the OSCE and the
OAS. That is the parliamentary dimension. We have strong
parliamentarian interests in the work of the OSCE, which I
think has paid major dividends to the effectiveness of the
organization. I congratulate Representative Alcee Hastings for
being the president of the Parliamentary Assembly and his
leadership in the Mediterranean partners; Representative Chris
Smith, who's had a special position in regards to trafficking;
Representative Robert Aderholt, who was the vice president;
Senator Roger Wicker, who's taken on a leadership position; and
others. So we think you should utilize the fact that
parliamentarians are there to help implement the policies of
the OSCE.
And then lastly, let me mention that every chair-in-office
brings to that position a unique opportunity because of the
country that you come from. Serbia is in a critical position to
help us resolve some long-standing problems within the OSCE
region. Under your chairmanship, we hope we can advance the
long-standing concerns in Bosnia and Kosovo. It would be a
major accomplishment during your chairmanship to move these
issues forward.
Lastly, as you know, the Helsinki Commission is famous for
mentioning individual cases. We think that by mentioning
individual cases, we really do advance the principles of the
OSCE. In Serbia's case, the unresolved accountability for the
Bytyqi brothers massacre needs to be resolved. And we would
urge you to give this matter prompt and immediate attention to
bring those responsible to justice for this tragedy.
Bottom line, we're here to work with you and we very much
appreciate you taking the time to meet with our Commission.
Mr. Smith. Senator Cardin, thank you very much for your
strong statement and for your leadership. I'd like to now yield
to Representative Joe Pitts.
HON. JOSEPH R. PITTS, COMMISSIONER, COMMISSION ON SECURITY AND
COOPERATION IN EUROPE
Thank you, Mr. Chairman, for holding this important hearing
on Serbia's leadership of the OSCE. And I'd also like to thank
Foreign Minister Dacic for your attendance on behalf of your
government. I think the topic warrants a representative such as
yourself. I thank you for making the journey and appearing
before us.
It is a real testament to the OSCE, as well as to the
Serbian Government following its transition from the Milosevic
regime, that we are in the position to hold this meeting.
Serbia's Chairmanship reflects the organization's commitment to
democratic principles and processes, and reflects a sincerity
in respecting the rights of its member states. Furthermore, in
many ways Serbia has reciprocated this respect via its
cooperative approach to the OSCE field mission within its
territory. This juxtaposes greatly with the other member states
that also possess field missions.
Our respective governments have much to work on bilaterally
as well as in the multinational framework of the OSCE; however,
I am very hopeful that the chairmanship can yield progress on
both fronts--redress for past incidents against Americans,
American interests, as well as independence of the media, the
rights of minorities, victims of trafficking are some of the
issues that deserve considerable attention from the Serbian
Government.
Of profound importance is Serbia's unique role it can play
as a mediator between the Russian Federation and the rest of
the OSCE, as well as its experience in addressing frozen
conflicts. Serbia has the opportunity of playing an important
part in addressing the crisis both the European Union and OSCE
find itself in with respect to Russia's continued actions that
violate the Helsinki Final Act.
Specifically, I believe Serbia must effectively demonstrate
to Russia that the inviolability of Europe's borders is not
something to be bargained or negotiated and that its
involvement in Ukraine does not have any real European
similarity or symmetrical example. It's a violation unlike any
since the end of World War II. I've been encouraged with the
commitment to addressing the crisis thus far and believe that a
great work can be accomplished with the help of Serbia's
leadership.
So I look forward to the addressing of these issues at this
hearing and as our governments continue to work together. I
yield back, Mr. Chairman.
Mr. Smith. Thank you very much, Commissioner Pitts. It is
really a high honor to welcome Chairman-in-Office Dacic. Just
very briefly, without objection, your full biography will be
made a part of the record. You are a man with a great deal of
experience and expertise. Married with two children. You've
served as--and I would remind my colleagues--a member of the
Socialist Party of Serbia since its foundation in 1991. In
2006, you served as president of the party, which was reformed
under your leadership into a modern party of the center-left.
You've been a member of several parliaments at the republican
and federal levels, first elected in 1982 to the Citizen's
Chamber of the Federal Assembly of the Federal Republic of
Yugoslavia. You've worked in many capacities, including as a
representative to the Parliamentary Assembly for the Council of
Europe. You also have served as prime minister and minister of
interior. And apart from politics, you were also a great
sportsman and served as the president of the Sports Association
of Serbia, vice president of the Yugoslav Olympic Committee and
the president of the Belgrade Basketball Club. So you're a very
competitive guy. We welcome you to the Commission and look
forward to your statement.
IVICA DACIC, CHAIRPERSON-IN-OFFICE OF THE OSCE, FIRST DEPUTY
PRIME MINISTER AND MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS, REPUBLIC OF
SERBIA
Mr. Dacic. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Smith,
Mr. Cardin, Mr. Hastings, Mr. Pitts, ladies and gentlemen,
thank you for the invitation to address your Commission.
I am honored to have the opportunity to discuss European
security and the priorities of the Serbian chairmanship for the
Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe with
members of the United States Congress. I would like to
acknowledge the important role that the Helsinki Commission
plays within the OSCE. We are also grateful for the support and
cooperation of the U.S. Department of State across the spectrum
of the organization's work.
The active engagement of the United States within the OSCE
is critical to the organization's effectiveness. Indeed,
America is one of our anchors. It is a strong promoter of the
OSCE values and commitments. It is also the largest contributor
to the overall OSCE budget and a leading supporter of the
Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine, both in terms of
financial support and personnel. Your country's steadfast
support for the OSCE is deeply appreciated.
This year, as you know, is the 40th anniversary of the
signing of the Helsinki Final Act. When Serbia agreed to serve
as OSCE chairmanship in 2015, we expected we would be
celebrating these fundamental principles of security. Instead,
we have seen them blatantly violated. The dramatic developments
in Europe over the past year are sharp reminders that both our
security and the fundamental values of democracy and human
rights be constantly defended.
Serbia's Chairmanship of the OSCE coincides with the worst
crisis of European security since the end of the Cold War. The
crisis in and around Ukraine dominates security considerations
in Europe, but its impact is far greater. Mistrust and
divisions, confrontational policies and zero-sum logic are
undermining the cooperative approach to security that is at the
heart of the OSCE comprehensive body of commitments and
principles.
The current crisis has highlighted the enduring strengths
and advantage of the OSCE as the organization best suited to
bridging growing divides and facilitating cooperative
solutions. Its response to the crisis has once again
demonstrated the organization's relevance to European security.
The OSCE has been continuously engaged in trying to find a
diplomatic solution to the crisis in and around Ukraine.
Indeed, the OSCE is the only regional organization that brings
all the key stakeholders to the table. We are keeping critical
lines of communications open and finding opportunities for
joint action.
The Serbian Chairmanship is doing its utmost to continue
these efforts in an impartial and reliable manner. We recognize
that both the OSCE and European security are at a critical
juncture. Our highest priority is to protect the inclusive and
cooperative nature of the OSCE's work and to prevent the crisis
from escalating into a larger confrontation. Today the whole
world is watching Ukraine. The OSCE is also in the global
spotlight because of its key role in monitoring the ceasefire
and the withdrawal of troops and heavy weapons.
The ceasefire is fragile, but it seems to be largely
holding. I have repeatedly called on all parties to uphold the
terms of the September 2014 Minsk Protocol and Memorandum and
to fulfill their responsibilities under the package of measures
for implementing the Minsk documents that was recently agreed
within the framework of the Trilateral Contact Group.
The OSCE, and in particular our Special Monitoring Mission
to Ukraine, is doing its part to facilitate the ceasefire
process and all other efforts to restore stability and pave the
way for reconstruction and reconciliation. The Special
Monitoring Mission has proved to be a unique and invaluable
asset in terms of the international response to the crisis.
However, it is an unarmed civilian mission carrying out what
amounts to peacekeeping operation.
The Serbian Chairmanship will make every effort to help
restore peace in Ukraine and to rebuild trust and confidence
across the OSCE region. Our own recent past demonstrates that
despite many difficulties, we can set a positive agenda for the
future, focused on cooperation and reconciliation. Serbia
brings to table good relations with all the key stakeholders.
We are making every effort to serve as an honest broker and use
our leadership role to utilize the OSCE toolbox impartially and
transparently.
However, we have a shared responsibility, but especially
the key stakeholders, to engage in dialogue and to create
conditions for cooperation and compromise so that we can find a
constructive way forward together. But please do not
misunderstand me. I do not mean we should compromise our norms
and principles. By the contrary, we must reaffirm and
strengthen them and make them harder to violate.
Ladies and gentlemen, terrorism is without a doubt a top
concern around the globe today. In recent weeks in the OSCE
region, we have seen horrific attacks in Paris and Copenhagen.
I offer my sincere condolences to the families of the victims.
As the threat from terrorism and the related phenomenon on
foreign terrorist fighters continues to grow, we must be united
and determined in our condemnation of all forms of terrorism.
We must also unify our societies to resist attempts to create
divisions on the basis of religion, ethnicity, race or culture.
The Serbian Chairmanship will give special focus to
countering violent extremism and radicalization that lead to
terrorism, including radicalization of youth and the foreign
fighter phenomenon. In July, we will host an expert-level OSCE-
wide counterterrorism conference in Vienna that will focus on
foreign terrorist fighters.
Ladies and gentlemen, allow me now to turn to priorities--
to the priorities of the Serbian OSCE chairmanship. Supporting
the peace process in Ukraine is, of course, our main priority.
But there are other important challenges in the OSCE region
where the OSCE has a role to play that must not be overshadowed
by the current crisis. Chief among them is the resolution of
protracted conflicts in the OSCE region through agreed formats.
In this regard, I would like to recognize the efforts of
Ambassador James Warlick, the U.S. Co-Chair of the OSCE Minsk
Group, and Deputy Assistant Secretary Eric Rubin, the U.S.
representative in the Geneva Discussions. The agreed formats
should meet regularly and without obstruction. And high-level
contacts between the parties should continue. But I believe
that we must also try to move beyond the status quo and take
some small but concrete steps to increase trust and confidence
between the parties.
Ladies and gentlemen, I am convinced that the OSCE has
benefited from the continuity provided by the consecutive
chairmanships of Switzerland and Serbia. The Serbian
Chairmanship will continue to work on the basis of our Joint
Work Plan in all three dimensions, giving special focus to
certain topics of interest.
In addition to counterterrorism issues, our first dimension
activities will focus on improving cooperation in confronting
transnational organized crime, including its links to
trafficking in human beings and irregular migration; security
sector governance and reform; and addressing emerging
cybersecurity threats. We appreciate the continued commitment
and leadership of the U.S. Chair of the Informal Working Group,
as it focuses on developing a new set of cybersecurity
confidence-building measures. The Serbian Chairmanship also
supports continued dialogue on conventional arms control, with
the hope that it can lead to progress in updating and
modernizing our existing instruments, including confidence- and
security-building measures, like the Vienna document.
In the second dimension, we will focus on issues that
coincide with our national priorities, including combating
corruption, water governance and disaster risk reduction and
preparedness. This year's Economic and Environmental Forum will
be devoted to water governance of the OSCE area, increasing
security and stability through cooperation. The Economic and
Environmental Dimension Implementation Meeting, which will take
place in Vienna in October, will focus on the fight against
corruption. We look forward to strong U.S. participation at
both of these events.
Ladies and gentlemen, the Helsinki Final Act was
revolutionary for its time in large part because it took the
human dimension of security into account. Today it remains our
duty and responsibility to highlight and protect the universal
values of human rights, tolerance and nondiscrimination. OSCE
participating States must continuously strive to strengthen the
implementation of the human dimension commitments.
This year, we will place special emphasis on strengthening
the rule of law, freedom of expression and freedom of the
media, including the safety of journalists and freedom of
assembly and association. The recent tragic events in Paris and
Copenhagen underscore the importance of protecting freedom of
expression. So our plan to organize an event devoted to the
safety of journalists is especially relevant. We will also
focus on the protection of the rights of persons belonging to
national minorities and promotion of tolerance and
nondiscrimination.
The OSCE agenda is becoming increasingly cross-dimensional.
We will integrate the perspectives and concerns of women and
youth in our activities, particularly at the grassroots level.
Because civil society can and should play a crucial role in
protecting human rights and creating policies in our
participating States, we will also strengthen efforts to engage
civil society in the organization's work.
Ladies and gentlemen, Serbia will strive to intensify
efforts to advance regional cooperation and reconciliation in
the Western Balkans. Our region has benefited significantly
from the presence of OSCE field operations and their efforts to
assist host countries to implement the OSCE commitments in all
three dimensions of security. My country has directly benefited
from the OSCE's work, and we know from our own experience the
important contribution that OSCE field operations can make.
Ladies and gentlemen, the current crisis of European
security highlights the importance of the OSCE as a security
organization. Its response to the situation in Ukraine has
shown that the OSCE can deliver. It reminds us that our
comprehensive concept of security also includes the politico-
military dimension. And we should support this aspect of the
organization's work as firmly as we support its work in the
human dimension. I should also point out that the OSCE provides
very good value for very little money. Imagine how much more it
could do with additional resources. Its work would have an even
deeper impact.
Ladies and gentlemen, as we prepare to commemorate the 40th
anniversary of the Helsinki Final Act this year, we need to
find ways to rebuild trust and confidence and to re-engage in
joint efforts to strengthen security across the whole OSCE
region. We must keep a close eye on the broader strategic
perspective of European security. And we must continue to
uphold our common values and principles, as enshrined in the
Helsinki Final Act and other landmark OSCE documents.
I strongly believe that the OSCE has a crucial role in the
overall European security architecture as an inclusive platform
for dialogue, building trust and bridging the growing East-West
divide. This is captured in the motto of the Serbian
chairmanship: Rebuilding trust and confidence in order to
create a positive agenda for the future. And we will spare no
effort in pursuing this goal. In this regard, I welcome the
creation of the Panel of Eminent Persons on European Security
as a common project which was launched in December at the
annual OSCE Ministerial Council.
Mr. Chairman, President Obama has reaffirmed the centrality
of European security to American interests and national
security. The OSCE provides a unique format through which the
United States can contribute to European security. The OSCE is
broadly inclusive, providing an increasingly important bridge
between the Euro-Atlantic and the Euro-Asian regions.
I would like to thank the United States for its firm
commitment to the OSCE. I hope that your country will continue
to make the most of the OSCE's inclusive platform for dialogue
and joint action. Thank you for your attention and support. I
look forward to your questions and comments.
Mr. Smith. Chairman Dacic, thank you for your very, very
expansive vision, for presenting it to the Helsinki Commission
and, by extension, to the U.S. Congress. We will make this
record available to our colleagues and put your full statement
into the Congressional Record.
Mr. Hastings has a hearing that he has to attend that began
at 3:00, but I'd like to yield to him if you'd like to say a
word or two.
Mr. Hastings. Just to thank you. And I know how difficult
being OSCE Chair-in-Office is. You have our full support, Mr.
Chairman.
Mr. Dacic. Thank you very much.
Mr. Hastings. I look forward to seeing you in Vienna.
Mr. Dacic. Thank you very much.
Mr. Smith. I would like to note that Ambassador Michael
Kirby, U.S. ambassador to Serbia, is here with us today. And I
want to thank him for--Ambassador Kirby, thank you for being
here. And there are many other diplomats and friends of the
OSCE--
Mr. Dacic. Our ambassador in United States?
Mr. Smith. Yes. Mr. Ambassador, thank you.
Mr. Dacic. Your ambassador.
Mr. Smith. Welcome. Just a few questions, Mr. Chairman, and
then I'll yield to my good friend, Mr. Cohen, and then to
Commissioner Pitts.
The Special Monitoring Mission obviously carries with it a
number of dangers for those who have been deployed there. We
know what happened to those--maybe because we have a vote,
we'll all ask our questions and then as best you can concisely
answer, because we are now being called to the floor for
another set of votes, and I apologize for that. But the
monitoring mission, we know what happened in Crimea when the
OSCE folks were held and restrained. If you could perhaps
elaborate on that mission: Does it need to be augmented? Is it
about the right size?
I asked you at the meeting in Vienna about the issue of
ensuring that there are eyes and ears when it comes to human
trafficking. As we all know, traffickers prey on
disenfranchised persons. And we know there are at least a
million and a half IDPs who very quickly could become exploited
and trafficked.
I'd like to yield to Mr. Cohen. Maybe he can ask a few of
his questions, then Mr. Pitts.
HON. STEVE COHEN, COMMISSIONER, COMMISSION ON SECURITY AND
COOPERATION IN EUROPE
Thank you, Mr. Chair. I had the opportunity to visit your
nation. Ambassador Kirby hosted a dinner at his home and the
Prime Minister was with us. We had an excellent discussion. I
learned of his interest in basketball; I know you have that
too.
Mr. Putin had just kind of disregarded Serbia with the
pipeline situation, and I think he showed disrespect to your
nation. Russia has violated every precept and guidance of the
OSCE during these past few years; these are fundamental
principles. How does Russia continue to operate in the OSCE?
And can it in the future with its actions in Ukraine? Being
that time is of the essence, I will make that my question.
Basically: Russia, Putin, human rights, anti-Semitism,
violation of principles and inclusion.
Mr. Smith. Commissioner Pitts?
Mr. Pitts. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I too am concerned
about that issue of Ukraine and the Crimea, the crisis that
continues to be the focus of OSCE's work. How will your
chairmanship work to resolve the crisis, number one? And two,
Crimea's a part of Ukraine; how will the Serbian Chairmanship
engage to address the ongoing violation of OSCE commitments by
the Russian Federation in its invasion and occupation of
Crimea? That's my concern.
Mr. Smith. And finally, Mr. Chairman, because, again, we
are running out of time and that's because of the floor votes,
if I could ask you--you have suggested that you're going to
have conferences on violence and persecution against Christians
and Muslims. I think that is an extremely important initiative
for Serbia to be initiating.
I remember raising in this room that time and time again in
Kosovo, so many churches were not only desecrated but
decimated. There needed to be a response that was far more
robust than there was. No matter what the faith is--Judaism,
Christianity or Islam--people should be able to live out their
faith freely and in an unfettered manner. I applaud you for
your vision to have such conferences. Perhaps you might want to
speak to that as well.
Mr. Dacic. [Through interpreter.] I am going to speak to
you in Serbian and we will have interpretation into English,
just to avoid making any mistakes because each and every word
counts.
I would like to thank the United States of America for the
support it has been providing to the OSCE. And our chairmanship
is based on the principles that we are intending to consult
around all the topics with all the major key player and
stakeholders within the OSCE.
The OSCE Troika comprises at the time being Switzerland,
Serbia and Germany, which is going to hold the next
chairmanship. Our chairmanship priorities have been discussed
in London, in Paris, in Berlin, in Brussels, in Moscow, but
also in Kyiv--and today and tomorrow, here in Washington as
well. Today we have a hearing here in the Congress and tomorrow
I will have a meeting with the U.S. Secretary of State, Mr.
Kerry.
Two days ago in New York, I had a meeting with my
counterparts--Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian
Federation and also Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine,
particularly around the topics that you have just mentioned--
the new mission--actually, the extension of the mandate of the
existing Special Monitoring Mission. We were able to reach an
agreement for this mission to have extended its mandate, which
was at the time 6 months--to extend it to the full 12 months,
and of course, to uphold everything that has been agreed in
Minsk.
The mission of the OSCE will play a verification role. At
the political level, it will also play a mediation or brokering
role. My special representative within the Trilateral Contact
Group, Swiss Ambassador Heidi Tagliavini, jointly with the
Special Monitoring Mission, headed by the Turkish Ambassador
Mr. Apakan will observe and monitor the ceasefire, the
withdrawal of heavy weapons, but also the restoration and
maintaining of all of these issues which have the social and
economic component, such as the supply of gas, electricity,
incomes, salaries, pensions, and so on, but also to discuss
about the local elections--to coordinate the discussions with
the Ukrainian authorities in regard to local elections and
constitutional reforms and control of borders as well.
All in all, you know that all the decisions which are
reached within the OSCE are reached by consensus. We are
investing extreme and maximal efforts. Regardless of the
diverging opinions and standpoints, I have to say that we are
effective in the operation on the ground. We are interested in
principles. This means that Serbia, in its chairmanship
capacity, has a fair and objective role as a mediator and has a
brokering role in these negotiations, which is, of course,
based on the principles set out in the Helsinki Final Act.
Serbia has also been given support from the 15 member
states of the Security Council during its chairmanship. Myself,
as the Chairperson-in-Office, but also the Secretary General of
the OSCE, stand ready to come here and to brief you on any
topic of your interest, including the topics which you have
raised--the fight against trafficking human beings, anti-
Semitism, anti-Christianity notions and all other issues. In
line with this, we would like to continue in the same fashion.
I also agree with you that the role of the parliamentarians is
of crucial importance for our work. This also implies the work
of the Parliamentary Assembly of the OSCE.
Of course, in regard to our bilateral relations, since I'm
here with you in Congress, Serbia wishes the best possible
relations with the United States. Serbia wishes to restart
these relations. A hundred years ago at the end of the First
World War on the decree of President Wilson, a Serbian flag was
mounted on the White House as a sign--as a sign of the support
and the heroic fight of the Serbian nation and people in the
First World War. We had extremely difficult periods in our
bilateral relations, but I think that it is in our common
interests for Serbia to be the factor of stability and peace
within the region.
Serbia was able to transform itself from a problematic
country. Now it is a country which is chairing the OSCE. I
would like to urge you to communicate much more frequently with
Serbia, and to pay as many visits as you can to Serbia. And my
friend, your ambassador to Serbia, Mr. Kirby, I constantly
repeat to him, that there are very few people in Serbia who
remember the last visit of your President to Serbia. They say
that this was President Ford. I don't recall this data, so I
think that this opportunity could be utilized for rebuilding of
our good relations.
Mr. Smith. Mr. Chairman, thank you so very much, again. We
have, all of us, many more questions, but the bell has rung and
matter of fact we're out of time to vote. But I do look forward
to, myself, returning to Belgrade. I've been there before for a
visit. I look forward to working with you and your staff during
your
chairmanship-in-office. And again, thank you for the privilege
of receiving your testimony. The hearing is adjourned.
Mr. Dacic. Thank you.
[Whereupon, at 3:27 p.m., the hearing was adjourned.]
A P P E N D I X
=======================================================================
Prepared Statements
----------
Prepared Statement of Hon. Christopher H. Smith, Chairman, Commission
on Security and Cooperation in Europe
Welcome to everyone joining us this afternoon--especially to His
Excellency First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs
Ivica Dacic.
Your Chairmanship this year of the Organization for Security and
Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) in 2015 comes at a moment of tragedy, of
tremendous human suffering, in the region. One OSCE member--the Russian
government--is tearing the heart out of a neighboring member, Ukraine.
Today there are more than 5,400 dead and almost 1.5 million
internally displaced persons in Ukraine--and no end in sight. Russian
weapons, special forces, and all sorts of shady Russian-led
mercenaries, proxies, and criminal gangs are creating vast, ill-defined
and constantly shifting zones of outright war, lower-level conflict,
and chaos. These ``zones'' are home to millions of men, women, and
children who live there--or try to. Only a few days ago, Bishop
Shevchuk, Patriarch of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, called it
``the greatest humanitarian catastrophe in Eastern Europe since the end
of World War II.''
Your Excellency, we will look forward to hearing from you what the
OSCE, under your Chairmanship, proposes to do to respond to the
humanitarian needs in Ukraine, and to the Russian aggression. We'll be
especially interested to hear about the Special Monitoring Mission and
the Minsk Agreements. Although the latest Minsk agreements were signed
only two weeks ago, there are already serious violations--for example,
last week the people of the rail town of Debaltseve were subject to
shelling and their city was captured in violation of the Minsk
agreements. Russia and its proxies must adhere to Minsk and immediately
stop all cease-fire violations, allow OSCE monitors access to where
they need to be on the ground, and withdraw heavy weapons from the
front lines.
Understanding that the OSCE is a consensus organization--meaning
that the Russian government has an effective veto over many significant
actions--we believe the OSCE is still able and responsible to speak the
truth about the conflict, to find ways to limit it, and to help the
people of Ukraine. Our government will support you in this, and
certainly my Co-Chairman, Sen. Roger Wicker, and I, and our fellow
Commissioners will do everything in our means to support you as well.
Your Excellency, I also look forward to hearing about the fight
against human trafficking and anti-Semitism--two issues we discussed
briefly last week, at the Winter Meeting of the Parliamentary Assembly.
In my capacity as the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly's Special
Representative on Human Trafficking Issues, I hope to be able to work
with you to update internal OSCE regulations so ``that no activities of
the OSCE executive structures, including contracts for goods and
services, contribute to any form of THB,'' as was agreed upon in the
Kiev Ministerial Decision in 2013. I look forward to the support of the
Serbian Chairmanship to ensure institutional commitment from the OSCE
that matches the magnitude of the challenge we face with modern
slavery.
To speak for a moment about domestic issues in Serbia, fifteen
years ago I authored the Trafficking Victims Protection Act, which,
among its many provisions, mandated the State Department's Trafficking
in Persons Report. I hope you will use that analysis to boost efforts
to protect victims and end the scourge of human trafficking throughout
the OSCE region.
Fighting anti-Semitism has been a priority for the Helsinki
Commission since 2002, when I first proposed and formed a movement to
place this issue on the OSCE agenda--which led to the Berlin
Declaration in 2004 and the Berlin +10 Conference last year. So we look
forward to discussing as well vigorous implementation of the fight
against anti-Semitism.
Thank you, Your Excellency, for briefing the Commission this
afternoon.
Prepared Statement of Hon. Roger F. Wicker, Co-Chairman, Commission on
Security and Cooperation in Europe
Ladies and gentlemen, I join my colleagues in welcoming His
Excellency First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs
Ivica Dacic to this hearing before the Helsinki Commission. Your
presence is an important tradition for our Commission as we work to
formulate U.S. policy regarding the Organization for Security and
Cooperation in Europe (OSCE).
In 2011, Switzerland and Serbia agreed to prioritize crisis
management capacities during their successive OSCE Chairmanships.
Little did we know the scope of challenges to European and Eurasian
security we would face today. The Kremlin continues to use their
militant proxies in Ukraine to exact an even greater human toll. The
OSCE's field operations, especially the Special Monitoring Mission,
serves as the only existing and credible mechanism through which any
ceasefire terms can be implemented. We should be thankful that in the
years preceding the conflict in Ukraine, the OSCE was responsible for
the destruction of about 16,000 metric tons of melange, a toxic rocket
fuel component that could have fallen in to the wrong hands. \1\ In
this sense, the OSCE has been a great insurance policy for security
cooperation that we must continue to invest in.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ OSCE Melange Program Infographic: Ensuring people's security
and environmental safety, June 26, 2014 (http://www.osce.org/fsc/
120274)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Last year, I visited Georgia and Moldova as part of a Helsinki
Commission delegation and learned firsthand about Moscow's intentions
and designs beyond Ukraine. The OSCE is also a large part of our
response to instability in these countries, and we need to make that
response as effective as possible.
I am glad, your Excellency, that in your recent speech before the
OSCE Permanent Council you acknowledged the gravity of our security
challenges by prioritizing ``dialogue and compromise, peaceful
resolution of disputes, confidence-building, solidarity, responsibility
and cooperation.'' \2\ I applaud your interest in convening further
expert meetings on counter-terrorism and addressing foreign terrorist
fighters, a phenomenon with impacts in and around the OSCE area. These
are important priorities in addition to the need for reinforcing the
OSCE's arms control instruments and confidence and security building
mechanisms. We can't let some participating States misinterpret these
treaties and instruments. Russia's continued refusal to meet its
obligations under the Vienna Document, the Open Skies Treaty and the
Conventional Armed Forces in Europe (CFE) Treaty are a part of a bigger
picture that erodes our ability to secure Ukraine's sovereignty.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\2\ Address by His Excellency Ivica Dacic, Chairperson-in-Office
of the OSCE, at the Special Meeting of the OSCE Permanent Council,
January 15, 2015--Vienna, Austria
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
While I value the OSCE as a forum for European security, I also
support the organization's efforts to promote human rights and
democratic institutions throughout the region. Indeed, the
comprehensive definition of security contained in the Helsinki Final
Act includes respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms, and the
last 40 years has shown us that greater democracy brings greater peace
and stability across Europe. And as the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly
asserted, at its 2014 annual session, that ``improved democratic
practices regarding free and fair elections, adherence to the rule of
law and respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms in the
Russian Federation would benefit the citizens of that State but also
contribute significantly to stability and confidence among its
neighbours, as well as enhance security and co-operation among all the
participating States.''
Your Excellency, Serbia has clearly demonstrated its potential to
lead the OSCE through a constructive relationship with the OSCE Mission
to Serbia and efforts toward European Union membership. Serbia is not
only a country of regional significance in the Balkans but a country
which can advocate adherence to Helsinki Principles and OSCE provisions
with the credibility of having overcome so many challenges in the last
20 years.
As this Commission has emphasized to all Chairs-in-Office we meet
with, the chairmanship should be a model for other participating States
regarding the implementation of OSCE commitments. I hope this hearing
will explore how we can support each other as our countries seek to
implement our commitments in all dimensions. I wish your chairmanship
every success and I look forward to your testimony.
Prepared Statement of Ivica Dacic, Chairperson-in-Office of the OSCE,
First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Republic
of Serbia
Chairman Smith, Co-Chairman Wicker, Commissioners, Ladies and
Gentlemen,
Thank you for the invitation to address your Commission. I am
honored to have the opportunity to discuss European security and the
priorities of the Serbian Chairmanship of the Organization for Security
and Co-operation in Europe with members of the United States Congress.
I would like to acknowledge the important role that the Helsinki
Commission plays within the OSCE. We are also grateful for the support
and co-operation of the U.S. Department of State across the spectrum of
the Organization's work. The active engagement of the United States
within the OSCE is critical to the Organization's effectiveness.
Indeed, America is one of our anchors. It is a strong promoter of OSCE
values and commitments. It is also the largest contributor to the
overall OSCE budget, and a leading supporter of the Special Monitoring
Mission to Ukraine both in terms of financial support and personnel.
Your country's steadfast support for the OSCE is deeply appreciated.
This year, as you know, is the 40th anniversary of the signing of
the Helsinki Final Act. When Serbia agreed to serve as OSCE
Chairmanship in 2015, we expected we would be celebrating these
fundamental principles of security. Instead, we have seen them
blatantly violated. The dramatic developments in Europe over the past
year are sharp reminders that both our security and the fundamental
values of democracy and human rights must be constantly defended.
Serbia's Chairmanship of the OSCE coincides with the worst crisis
of European security since the end of the Cold War. The crisis in and
around Ukraine dominates security considerations in Europe, but its
impact is far greater. Mistrust and divisions, confrontational policies
and zero-sum logic are undermining the co-operative approach to
security that is at the heart of the OSCE's comprehensive body of
commitments and principles. Twenty-five years ago in Paris, our Heads
of State or Government declared the end of confrontation and division
in Europe. They expressed their commitment to democracy, human rights
and fundamental freedoms; prosperity through economic freedom and
social justice; and equal security for all countries. The Helsinki
process and full implementation of all commitments are at the very
foundation of the Paris Charter. The Serbian Chairmanship is fully
aware that it is our duty to defend what the OSCE stands for, and we
count on your support.
The current crisis has highlighted the enduring strengths and
advantages of the OSCE as the organization best suited to bridging
growing divides and facilitating co-operative solutions. Its response
to the crisis has once again demonstrated the Organization's relevance
to European security.
The OSCE has been continuously engaged in trying to find a
diplomatic solution to the crisis in and around Ukraine. Indeed, the
OSCE is the only regional organization that brings all the key
stakeholders to the table. We are keeping critical lines of
communication open, and finding opportunities for joint action.
The Serbian Chairmanship is doing its utmost to continue these
efforts in an impartial and reliable manner. We recognize that both the
OSCE and European security are at a critical juncture. Our highest
priority is to protect the inclusive and co-operative nature of the
OSCE's work, and to prevent the crisis from escalating into a larger
confrontation. We are making every effort to rebuild confidence and
trust among participating States and to restart our joint efforts
toward the vision of a Euro-Atlantic and Eurasian security community.
We are fully committed to working with the main stakeholders to restore
peace and stability for Ukraine and its people.
Today, the whole world is watching Ukraine. The OSCE is also in the
global spotlight because of its key role in monitoring the ceasefire
and the withdrawal of troops and heavy weapons. The ceasefire is
fragile, but it seems to be largely holding. I have repeatedly called
on all parties to uphold the terms of the September 2014 Minsk Protocol
and Memorandum, and to fulfil their responsibilities under the Package
of Measures for implementing the Minsk documents that was recently
agreed within the framework of the Trilateral Contact Group. I would
like to thank Ambassador Heidi Tagliavini, my Special Representative in
Ukraine and to the Trilateral Contact Group, for her tireless
commitment to helping the parties find the path towards peace.
The OSCE, and in particular our Special Monitoring Mission to
Ukraine, is doing its part to facilitate the ceasefire process and all
other efforts to restore stability and pave the way for reconstruction
and reconciliation. The Special Monitoring Mission has proved to be a
unique and invaluable asset in terms of the international response to
the crisis. However, it is an unarmed civilian mission carrying out
what amounts to a peacekeeping operation. OSCE monitors are working
under considerable operational constraints and in an extremely volatile
environment. I salute their courage and dedication. Their safety is our
primary concern. Depending on how the situation develops on the ground,
we may need to reconsider the Mission's mandate.
The Serbian Chairmanship will make every effort to help restore
peace in Ukraine and to rebuild trust and confidence across the OSCE
region. Our own recent past demonstrates that, despite many
difficulties, we can set a positive agenda for the future, focused on
cooperation and reconciliation. Serbia brings to the table good
relations with all the key stakeholders, and we are making every effort
to serve as an honest broker and use our leadership role to utilize the
OSCE toolbox impartially and transparently. However, we have a shared
responsibility--but especially the key stakeholders--to engage in
dialogue and to create conditions for co-operation and compromise so
that we can find a constructive way forward together. But please do not
misunderstand me: I do not mean we should compromise our norms and
principles. Quite the contrary--we must reaffirm and strengthen them,
and make them harder to violate.
Ladies and Gentlemen, terrorism is without a doubt a top concern
around the globe today. In recent weeks in the OSCE region, we have
seen horrific attacks in Paris and Copenhagen. I offer my sincere
condolences to the families of the victims. As the threat from
terrorism and the related phenomenon of foreign terrorist fighters
continues to grow, we must be united and determined in our condemnation
of all forms of terrorism. We must also unify our societies to resist
attempts to create divisions on the basis of religion, ethnicity, race
or culture. It is clear that a criminal justice response is not
sufficient. We need to work with communities and address the deeper
roots of the problem, and foster tolerance, nondiscrimination and
respect for diversity.
The Serbian Chairmanship will give special focus to countering
violent extremism and radicalization that lead to terrorism, including
radicalization of youth and the foreign fighter phenomenon. In all of
these areas, we will take our human dimension commitments into account,
and also engage closely with the OSCE Partners for Cooperation. In
July, we will host an expert-level, OSCE-wide counter-terrorism
conference in Vienna that will focus on foreign terrorist fighters.
This event was announced last week at the Ministerial Meeting of the
White House Summit on Countering Violent Extremism as one of its
regional follow-on events. I encourage the United States to make a
strong contribution to our conference.
Ladies and Gentlemen, allow me now to turn to the priorities of the
Serbian OSCE Chairmanship.
Supporting the peace process in Ukraine is of course our main
priority. But there are other important challenges in the OSCE region
where the OSCE has a role to play which must not be overshadowed by the
current crisis. Chief among them is the resolution of protracted
conflicts in the OSCE region through agreed formats. In this regard, I
would like to recognize the efforts of Ambassador Warlick, the U.S. Co-
Chair of the OSCE Minsk Group, and Deputy Assistant Secretary Eric
Rubin, the U.S. representative in the Geneva Discussions. The agreed
formats should meet regularly and without obstruction, and high-level
contacts between the parties should continue. But I believe that we
must also try to move beyond the status quo and take some small but
concrete steps to increase trust and confidence between the parties.
This could enable them to start focusing on substantive problems that
could advance the peace process. After all, in the end, resolving the
conflicts is the responsibility of the parties. The OSCE and key
international players can encourage conditions to foster the necessary
political will to support peaceful settlements.
Ladies and Gentlemen, I am convinced that the OSCE has benefited
from the continuity provided by the consecutive chairmanships of
Switzerland and Serbia. The Serbian Chairmanship will continue to work
on the basis of our Joint Work Plan in all three dimensions, giving
special focus to certain topics of interest.
In addition to counter-terrorism issues, our first dimension
activities will focus on improving co-operation in confronting
transnational organized crime, including its links to trafficking in
human beings and irregular migration; security sector governance and
reform; and addressing emerging cyber-security threats. We appreciate
the continued commitment and leadership of the U.S. Chair of the
Informal Working Group as it focuses on developing a new set of cyber-
security confidence-building measures. The Serbian Chairmanship also
supports continued dialogue on conventional arms control with the hope
that it can lead to progress in updating and modernizing our existing
instruments, including confidence- and security-building measures like
the Vienna Document. We shall co-operate closely on politico-military
issues with this year's Chairmanships of the Forum for Security Co-
operation--Mongolia, Montenegro and Norway--and in our preparations for
the Annual Security Review Conference.
In the second dimension, we will focus on issues that coincide with
our national priorities, including combatting corruption, water
governance, and disaster risk reduction and preparedness. This year's
Economic and Environmental Forum will be devoted to ``Water Governance
in the OSCE Area--Increasing Security and Stability through
Cooperation.'' The Economic and Environmental Dimension Implementation
Meeting, which will take place in Vienna in October, will focus on the
fight against corruption. We look forward to strong U.S. participation
in both of these events.
Ladies and Gentlemen, the Helsinki Final Act was revolutionary for
its time in large part because it took the human dimension of security
into account. Today it remains our duty and responsibility to highlight
and protect the universal values of human rights, tolerance and
nondiscrimination. OSCE participating States must continuously strive
to strengthen the implementation of their human dimension commitments
including by strengthening national institutions of human rights. The
Serbian Chairmanship will do its utmost to support them. This year we
will place special emphasis on strengthening the rule of law, freedom
of expression and freedom of the media, including the safety of
journalists, and freedom of assembly and association. The recent tragic
events in Paris and Copenhagen underscore the importance of protecting
freedom of expression, so our plan to organize an event devoted to the
safety of journalists is especially relevant. We will also focus on the
protection of the rights of persons belonging to national minorities
and promotion of tolerance and non-discrimination.
Recognizing that the OSCE agenda is increasingly cross-dimensional
and that many contemporary threats to security stem in part from
marginalization, we will strengthen efforts to be inclusive. We will
integrate the perspectives and concerns of women and youth in our
activities, particularly at the grass-roots level. Because civil
society can and should play a crucial role in protecting human rights
and creating policies in our participating States, we will also
strengthen efforts to engage civil society in the Organization's work.
Ladies and Gentlemen, Serbia will strive to intensify efforts to
advance regional co-operation and reconciliation in the Western
Balkans. Our region has benefitted significantly from the presence of
OSCE Field Operations and their efforts to assist host countries to
implement their OSCE commitments in all three dimensions of security.
My country has directly benefited from the OSCE' s work, and we know
from our own experience the important contribution that OSCE Field
Operations can make. OSCE Field Operations are reliable partners, and
Serbia is proud to host the OSCE in our country. OSCE Field Operations
make a significant and constructive contribution to enhancing security
and consolidating reform processes that make our societies stronger and
protect the rights of our citizens. Although every region in the OSCE
area is different, I am convinced that sharing the lessons of the
Western Balkans more broadly would be beneficial. The current crisis of
security in the OSCE region underscores the need for dialogue and
reconciliation. Serbia's own experience demonstrates that it is
possible to create a positive agenda even in the face of significant
obstacles by adopting a pragmatic and goal-oriented approach.
Ladies and Gentlemen, The current crisis of European security
highlights the importance of the OSCE as a security organization. Its
response to the situation in Ukraine has shown that the OSCE can
deliver. It reminds us that our comprehensive concept of security also
includes the politico-military dimension, and we should support this
aspect of the Organization's work as firmly as we support its work in
the human dimension. Especially when we are putting hundreds of
civilian staff on the ground in a conflict situation, we should be able
to offer them as much protection as possible. I hope that we can
accelerate progress toward resolving the long-unresolved issue of the
OSCE's lack of a legal personality. This would help us to address this
kind of challenge.
I should also point out that the OSCE provides very good value for
very little money. Imagine how much more it could do with additional
resources. Its work would have an even deeper impact.
Ladies and Gentlemen, as we prepare to commemorate the fortieth
anniversary of the Helsinki Final Act this year, we need to find ways
to rebuild trust and confidence and to re-engage in joint efforts to
strengthen security across the whole OSCE region. We must keep a close
eye on the broader strategic perspective of European security. And we
must continue to uphold our common values and principles as enshrined
in the Helsinki Final Act and other landmark OSCE documents. Although
these norms have been violated, they do not need to be reconsidered.
Instead, they need to be reaffirmed and strengthened and made more
difficult to undermine. We should look back to the roots of the
Helsinki process and learn from the commitment of those Cold War-era
leaders to work together. We should remember that we have joint
responsibility for peace and security in Europe.
I strongly believe that the OSCE has a crucial role in the overall
European security architecture--as an inclusive platform for dialogue,
building trust, and bridging the growing East-West divide. This is
captured in the motto of the Serbian Chairmanship--``Rebuilding trust
and confidence in order to create a positive agenda for the future''--
and we will spare no effort in pursuing this goal. In this regard, I
welcome the creation of the Panel of Eminent Persons on European
Security as a Common Project, which was launched in December at the
annual OSCE Ministerial Council. I am confident that the Panel has the
potential to generate innovative ideas that can help us recapture the
``spirit of Helsinki.'' I look forward to its recommendations on how to
replace the current culture of confrontation with one of co-operation
and joint action.
Chairman Smith,
Co-Chairman Wicker,
Commissioners,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
President Obama has reaffirmed the centrality of European security
to American interests and national security. The OSCE provides a unique
format through which the United States can contribute to European
security. The OSCE is broadly inclusive, providing an increasingly
important bridge between the Euro-Atlantic and the Eurasian regions.
I would like to thank the United States for its firm commitment to
the OSCE. I hope that your country will continue to make the most of
the OSCE's inclusive platform for dialogue and joint action. Thank you
for your attention and support.
I look forward to your questions and comments.
First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the
Republic of Serbia Ivica Dacic was born on 1 January 1966 in Prizren.
After graduating from the Faculty of Political Science in Belgrade, he
became actively involved in politics. He is married and has two
children.
Mr. Dacic has been a Member of the Socialist Party of Serbia (SPS)
since its foundation in 1991. Since 2006, he has served as the
President of the Party, which has been reformed under his leadership
into a modern party of centre left, with a clear pro-European
orientation. He was awarded the title of the Best European
(Najevropljanin) in 2009 by the European Movement in Serbia for his
contributions to Serbia's European path.
Mr. Dacic was a Member of several Parliaments at republican and
federal levels--he was first elected in 1992 to the Citizens' Chamber
of the Federal Assembly of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, where he
later became the SPS chief whip. He was elected in 2004 as a Member of
the National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia, where he also headed
the MP Group of the coalition rallied around the SPS. He was a Member
of the parliamentary delegation of the National Assembly of the
Republic of Serbia to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of
Europe.
In addition to performing parliamentary duties, Mr. Dacic held a
number of governmental positions. He was an acting Minister of
Information in the so-called transitional government of the Republic of
Serbia from October 2000 to January 2001. From July 2008 to July 2012,
he served as the First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior;
from July 2012 to April 2014, as Prime Minister and Minister of
Interior.
From 27 April 2014 and onwards, Mr. Dacic was the First Deputy
Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs. Apart from politics,
Mr. Dacic's outside interests also include sports. He held the offices
of President of Belgrade ``Partizan'' Basketball Club, Vice-President
of the Yugoslav Olympic Committee, President of the Sport Association
of Serbia.
[all]
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