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UN / OSCE
STORY: UN / OSCE
TRT: 2:05
SOURCE: UNIFEED
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH / NATS
DATELINE: 10 MARCH 2021, NEW YORK CITY
FILE - NEW YORK CITY
1. Wide shot, UN headquarters exterior
10 MARCH 2021, NEW YORK CITY
2. Multiple screens, participants
3. SOUNDBITE (English) Ann Linde, Chairperson-in-Office of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) and Minister for Foreign Affairs of Sweden:
“Seven years into the crisis, it is clear that effort towards conflict resolution need to intensify. As Chairperson-in-Office, I will fully support the work of the Normandy Format and the Trilateral Contact Group to achieve a full implementation of the Minsk Agreement and will seek to contribute to a sustainable political solution in line with the OSCE commitments and principles, respecting sovereignty, territorial integrity, and independence of Ukraine within its internationally recognized borders.”
4. Multiple screens, participants
5. SOUNDBITE (English) Ann Linde, Chairperson-in-Office of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) and Minister for Foreign Affairs of Sweden:
“Recent violations of the ceasefire are deeply worrying. Respect for international law, including international humanitarian law, is of course essential. As long as crossing points of the contact line remain closed, communities and families are separated, elderly struggle to receive care, and access to government services is restricted for many citizens.”
6. Multiple screens, participants
7. SOUNDBITE (English) Ann Linde, Chairperson-in-Office of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) and Minister for Foreign Affairs of Sweden:
“The ceasefire achieved in November with the assistance of Russia brought about a welcomed stop to hostilities. Now we must cease this moment to renew efforts towards a lasting peace agreement. The OSCE has been given the international mandate to lead this process under the auspices of the OSCE-Minsk Group co-chairs. As Chairperson-in-Office, I fully support their continued engagement in the peace process, and I will use my visit to Baku and Yerevan next week express my expectation that the sides recommit to talks on a sustainable political solution.”
8. Multiple screens, participants
Swedish Foreign Minister and Chairperson-in-Office of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) Ann Linde said the crisis in and around Ukraine remains the most serious challenge to the European security order and stressed that seven years into the crisis, “it is clear that effort towards conflict resolution need to intensify.”
Addressing a virtual meeting of the Security Council today (10 Mar) Linde said the OSCE plays important role in many challenges on the Council’s agenda as the world's largest regional security organisation. She noted that close collaboration between the UN and OSCE remains essential , adding that the security situation in OSCE region calls for more, not less, common solutions.
The Swedish Foreign Minister said she visited Kiev and the contact line in Donbas during her first trip as Chairperson-in-Office of the OSCE in January. She said, “Seven years into the crisis, it is clear that effort towards conflict resolution need to intensify. As Chairperson-in-Office, I will fully support the work of the Normandy Format and the Trilateral Contact Group to achieve a full implementation of the Minsk Agreement and will seek to contribute to a sustainable political solution in line with the OSCE commitments and principles, respecting sovereignty, territorial integrity, and independence of Ukraine within its internationally recognized borders.”
Linde stressed that the conflict also had dire humanitarian consequences and the ceasefire enforced since July last year should now pave the way for further steps to ease the burden on civilians.
She added, “Recent violations of the ceasefire are deeply worrying. Respect for international law, including international humanitarian law, is of course essential. As long as crossing points of the contact line remain closed, communities and families are separated, elderly struggle to receive care, and access to government services is restricted for many citizens.”
The OSCE Chairperson-in-Office reiterated her call to open existing and new crossing points on both sides of the contact line.
Linde also address what she described as the unresolved Nagorno-Karabakh issue, which she said remains a serious challenge to international peace and security. She noted that renewed armed conflict last year resulted in thousands of casualties and immense suffering, including among civilians.
She said, “The ceasefire achieved in November with the assistance of Russia brought about a welcomed stop to hostilities. Now we must cease this moment to renew efforts towards a lasting peace agreement. The OSCE has been given the international mandate to lead this process under the auspices of the OSCE-Minsk Group co-chairs. As Chairperson-in-Office, I fully support their continued engagement in the peace process, and I will use my visit to Baku and Yerevan next week express my expectation that the sides recommit to talks on a sustainable political solution.”
Linde said the COVID-19 pandemic has added another layer of challenges on the OSCE region by putting strains on open societies. She said, during this last year, the region witness a backsliding in respect for human rights, and underscored that the Swedish chairpersonship would emphasize the right to the freedom of expression, and the freedom of media, as well as other democratic principles which states have committed to respect. She said she would continue to work for enhanced cooperation between the UN and the OSCE and underlined her committed to defend and enhance the OSCE agenda of peace, prosperity and respect for human rights.
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