1. Mr Chair, the European Union and its Member States commend you for holding today’s Security Dialogue on the important topic of the OSCE Code of Conduct on Politico-Military Aspects of Security, notably with its focus on the issue of strengthening compliance with this key OSCE acquis. We also thank the participating panellists for their presentations.
2. As we recently marked 30 years since the adoption of the Code of Conduct, the continued importance of this document still needs to be highlighted. The commitments agreed and adopted in 1994 remain vital today. The Code is a tool designed to preserve peace, prevent conflicts and strengthen international security and cooperation, in accordance with international law. As such, it requires participating States, all of which have nominally committed to the Code, to abide by their commitments in practice.
3. As a politically binding document, its effectiveness relies on proactive participation by all participating States. It is also incumbent on all participating States to continuously seek ways on how we can strengthen compliance. This is especially relevant during times of conflict and today’s event represents among others a relevant contribution to these efforts.
4. In the context of Russia’s ongoing war of aggression against Ukraine and unresolved conflicts in the OSCE area, we recall that all participating States committed to uphold the Code of Conduct. A responsible and thorough evaluation of the application of the Code in the OSCE area remains key in this regard. Russia’s actions and the support of Belarus are in contradiction to practically all tenets of the Code of Conduct, tenets that were subscribed to over 30 years ago.
5. We recall that participating States have committed themselves in para 2 of the Code to the “maintenance of peace”. Additionally, para 19 states “in the event of armed conflict, hostilities and seek to create conditions favourable to the political solution of the conflict”.
6. The Code of Conduct on Politico-Military Aspects of Security, as the fundamental OSCE document which provides ethical and political standards on the rule of law, human rights and the principles of international law in the politico-military security dimension, addresses the issue of democratic control of the armed forces and emphasises the principles of international humanitarian law in the use of force. It requires, inter alia, the participating States to adopt measures to ensure compliance with, and the consistency of their defence policies with international humanitarian law. It is in the common interest of all OSCE participating States to comply with international humanitarian law. In this context, the importance of compliance with the Code of Conduct cannot be emphasised enough.
7. All of us must harness the preventive power of the rule of law, make sure that all participating States have sound legal frameworks and are able and obliged to effectively carry out investigations, prosecutions and adjudications of cases.
8. Mr Chair, we have the right tool at our disposal. Now is the time to strengthen compliance. We must ensure that the Code is fully implemented and that all participating States live up to their commitments.
Thank you.
Albania, Andorra, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Iceland, Liechtenstein,
Republic of Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Norway, San Marino and
Ukraine align themselves with this statement.