Mr. Chair,
First, let me emphasize that Norway stands in solidarity with those grieving the loss of innocent lives after the school shooting in Sweden. Our thoughts are with the victims and their families.
Mr. Chair,
It is a pleasure to join previous speakers in welcoming the presentation by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Xavier Bettel.
The Council of Europe plays a leading role in the international community’s efforts to hold Russia accountable for the crimes committed in Ukraine. We greatly appreciate that Luxembourg has placed our two organization’s shared fundamental values at the heart of its Council of Europe Presidency.
As my EU colleagues have just stated, there can be no impunity for the crime of aggression, for war crimes, for crimes against humanity, or for any other violations of international law committed in Russia’s war of aggression. Those responsible must—and will—be held to account.
Colleagues,
Our security, economy, and welfare depend on preserving the international framework we have built since the Second World War. The Council of Europe and OSCE was established on the premise that democracy, human rights, and the rule of law were the strongest safeguards against another war in Europe.
As we approach the 50th anniversary of the Helsinki Final Act in 2025, we see violations of all ten of its founding principles. And Russia alone is responsible for breaching every single one of them.
Minister Bettel,
We agree, democracy, the rule of law, and human rights are under greater pressure than we have seen in a long time—both within the OSCE region and beyond. The alarming trend of democratic backsliding weakens institutions, erodes checks and balances, and restricts people’s fundamental freedoms.
We therefore wish to thank Luxembourg for its strong emphasis on freedom of expression and the safety of journalists. We welcome the initiative to host a conference in April as part of the Journalists Matter campaign, focusing on the prosecution of crimes against journalists. A free and independent media is not just essential to democracy—it is fundamental to security.
Finally, we share the concerns raised by the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights regarding developments in Georgia and fully support the RFoM’s call for the immediate and unconditional release of all journalists who have been arbitrarily arrested or detained. Legislative changes that restrict civic space, the repeated use of violence by police and others, the arrest of protesters and opposition figures, and mounting pressure on free media—all of these are clear warning signs of democratic backsliding.
Mr. Chair, Minister Bettel
This is a pivotal period for our two organizations. We must coordinate efforts in our respective mandates, share information, and work together to maximize our impact.
We wish Luxembourg every success for the remainder of its Presidency.
Thank you.