Mr. Chair,
I join others in welcoming Ambassador MacGregor back to the Permanent Council and thank him for his report.
Norway is a strong supporter of the OSCE Field Operations. The OSCE’s representation in participating States gives a lot of added value. It improves our ability to build capacity and conduct projects that assist the states in fulfilling our shared commitments. The work depends on experienced and dedicated people. In this regard, we note the report’s acknowledgement of the important contribution of the staff. We also hear first-hand from staff members, Ambassador MacGregor, that the working environment in the centre is very good.
Mr. Chair,
We appreciate the continued support offered by the host authorities to the Centre’s efforts, in and across all three dimensions. We welcome the close ties with other OSCE Field Operations in Central Asia, also relating to the Border Management Staff College, and encourage continued strengthening of these connections within the respective mandates. We are especially pleased to see that the efforts made to increase capacity in the border security sector, efforts that Norway has supported through voluntary contributions, also benefits from this co-operation.
In the human dimension, we particularly welcome the Centre’s support to the implementation of human rights standards, promoting media freedom, and enhancing the capacity of the Ombudsperson. We also appreciate the underlining of gender mainstreaming as a horizontal issue and its incorporation into the Centre’s programmatic activities.
Furthermore, ensuring access to information, including on human rights, as well as improving the access to support when such rights are violated, can significantly contribute to the wellbeing of the people of Turkmenistan.
Mr. Chair,
Let me again thank Ambassador McGregor for the report. We look forward to continuing the close dialogue with him and his staff at the OSCE Centre.
Thank you.