Thank you, Mr. Chair,
I speak on behalf of the Nordic countries: Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and my own country, Sweden. Director Telalian, welcome back to the Permanent Council Helsinki rested on one radical proposition. How a State treats its people is not its internal affair. It is a security question for all. Today, this is increasingly contested by some. Yet rarely has its relevance been more evident. Your report makes the case. Lawmaking for democratic resilience. Civic space in the digital age. These are not peripheral themes. They are the working parts of secure societies. The Warsaw Human Dimension Conference this month proved the point. As did the Ukrainian voices there who alongside civil society from across the region made the stakes unmistakably clear. Yet those who help uphold our shared commitments too often face intimidation and reprisals for doing so. We therefore echo your call. There can be no threats or reprisals for taking part in OSCE meetings. Ukraine is defending its independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity against Russia’s illegal war of aggression. Ukraine is also defending the foundational principle that power must be bound by law. Defending democratic institutions, and documenting blatant violation of our joint commitments based on international law, is therefore not separate to the pursuit of security. It is integral to it.
Colleagues,
Election observation is a commitment that all participating States have undertaken, as reflected in the Copenhagen and Istanbul Documents. Late invitations and restricted access are not technicalities. They are non-implementation. We emphasise the importance of timely and unconditional invitations by all participating States and of ensuring the conditions necessary for meaningful observations. ODIHR’s methodology sets the international standard. Independent. Impartial. Evidence based. It must remain that way. Above all when findings are uncomfortable. ODIHR does not certify elections. It assesses electoral processes against agreed commitments and makes recommendations. The Nordic countries have received such assessments and recommendations and acted on them. We will continue to do so, recognising that there is always room for improvement. A strengthened cooperation between the OSCE’s participating States, and the OSCE’s institutions, including ODIHR, is key to upholding joint commitments to ensure security in our region. At the same time, our delegations will remain steadfast in reaffirming the independence of the OSCE’s autonomous institutions. Lastly, fulfilling ODIHR’s mandates requires means. Prioritization cannot substitute for sustainable financing. We approach the 2027 budget in that spirit. Director Telalian, you have our full support.
Thank you.