Statement in response to the address of the OSCE Chairman-in-Office, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Mr. Leonid Kozhara

17 January, 2013

ՀԱՅԱՍՏԱՆԻ ՀԱՆՐԱՊԵՏՈՒԹՅԱՆ ՊԱՏՎԻՐԱԿՈՒԹՅՈՒՆ
DELEGATION OF THE REPUBLIC OF ARMENIA
ORGANIZATION FOR SECURITY AND CO-OPERATION IN EUROPE

Statement
In response to the Address of H.E. Mr. Leonid Kozhara Chairman-in-Office,
Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine
delivered by Ambassador Arman Kirakossian at the 937th Special Meeting of the
OSCE Permanent Council
January 17, 2013

Mr. Chairperson,

We would like to join other delegations in congratulating Ukraine on the assumption of the OSCE Chairmanship and to extend our warm welcome to H.E. Mr. Leonid Kozhara, Chairman-in-Office to the Permanent Council.

We appreciate your insightful address, which along side with the highlighted priorities of the Ukrainian Chairmanship offers a cooperative framework and program of work for this year.

We welcome the stance of the Ukrainian Chairmanship to lead Helsinki+40 process towards establishing free, democratic, common and indivisible Euro-Atlantic and Eurasian security community. We are also encouraged by the aspiration of the Chairmanship to promote trust, confidence and reconciliation to this end.

In our view, the implementation of the Astana Declaration and all subsequent OSCE commitments across three dimensions will further contribute to the strengthening օֆ the identity of our organization and its ability to play primary role in the conflict resolution within its region.

We took note with appreciation of the readiness of the Ukrainian Chairmanship to contribute towards resolution of existing conflicts in the OSCE area.

There are number of conflicts in the OSCE area and their resolution is addressed through different arrangements and mechanisms some of which are closely linked with the activities of our organization. Every conflict situation and its resolution are unique and require continuity, consistency and expertise of mediators. Hence, the support of the Ukrainian Chairmanship to the agreed formats particularly the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs as highlighted in the priorities will be an important contribution towards conflict resolution.

The conflict resolution is possible once all parties concerned abandon violence as means to achieve their goals and show political will to move towards peace and reconciliation. The Ukrainian Chairmanship’s clear message on the absolute imperative of rejecting violence, honoring already reached agreements and arriving to the negotiated outcome based on recognizing each other's rights will be an indispensable part of the collective practical efforts aimed at resolving existing conflicts. The right of people to peace, equality and self-determination should be addressed along side with their individual human rights and thus they cannot be simply denied in the OSCE area.

We welcome the intention of the Ukrainian Chairmanship to put special emphasis on the conflict prevention and reoccurrence in the conflict cycle particularly at the stage of the early warning and early action.

Armenia is ready to closely work with the Ukrainian Chairmanship to advance its priorities in all three dimensions.

We agree that the Arms control, disarmament and CSBMs are integral part of the OSCE concept of comprehensive, cooperative, equal and indivisible security and thus any setback here may create and even consolidate dividing lines also at the regional level. Therefore, we will be eager to extend our strong assistance to the Ukrainian Chairmanship in its efforts in building bridges between existing approaches.

We took note of the Chairmanship’s intention to increase the role of the OSCE in the development of existing and establishing new transport corridors and, in our view the OSCE role can be indeed strengthened here if the principles of Helsinki Final Act and Maastricht Strategy Document such as refraining from unilateral coercive economic measures, isolating and economically disadvantaging other participating states will be fully maintained.

As far as the Human Dimension is concerned, we sincerely hope that balanced approach of the Ukrainian Chairmanship which is clearly visible in its priorities will pave the way for increased level of understanding and cooperation among all participating states. We value the Chairmanship initiative to pay special attention to the education of youth in the realm of tolerance and non-discrimination.

Unfortunately, unprecedented manifestation of racism and hate crimes in certain areas of the OSCE creates a culture of impunity and xenophobia and young generation should be given the chance to overcome the imposed images of hate crime glorification. In this regard, this initiative of the Ukrainian Chairmanship is a timely one.

We believe that the valuable experience gained by Ukraine in the international cooperation will be fully utilized to have the OSCE at its best, an inclusive platform for dialogue of equal partners.

Thank you.

MFA RA
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