Mister Chair,
I am delivering this statement on behalf of Iceland, Norway, Switzerland and Liechtenstein.
We would like to thank the European Union for raising this Current Issue.
On 5 May, we celebrated Europe Day as the 76th anniversary of the founding of the Council of Europe. This day is an important occasion to reaffirm our shared commitment to the values and principles that underpin the European project.
When it was established, the mission of the Council of Europe was to rebuild our continent following the devastating impact of World War II. This objective includes the promotion of social and economic progress, based on the fundamental pillars of human rights, the rule of law and democracy.
The promise of “never again war” and the declared political goal of the Council of Europe to create peaceful coexistence and a prosperous continent led to the Treaties of Rome and to what later became the European Union, making a truly significant contribution to the promotion of peace, human rights, democracy and rule of law.
Mister Chair,
In the currently very challenging international context and in the year of “Helsinki+50” it is particularly timely and important to uphold these fundamental values and principles. They are not only associated with Europe Day, but they are also core basic elements of our work and cooperation in the OSCE.
In the past three years, these principles have been undermined, above all, by Russia’s ongoing war of aggression against Ukraine. This brutal war, but also other very concerning developments in the OSCE area, remind us of the need to jointly stand up for our fundamental values.
Our countries will continue to do this, at the OSCE and elsewhere, also reflecting our steadfast commitment to multilateralism. In this light, we underline our strong support for the OSCE’s comprehensive approach to security. We also remain committed to the role of this Organization as a unique platform for dialogue with valuable tools for managing and preventing conflicts and crises.
I thank you, Mister Chair.