皇冠体育app Forum for Security Co-operation's work remains vital: UK statement to OSCE
Ambassador Neil Holland thanks Croatia, as incoming Chair of the Forum for Security Co-operation, for keeping the spotlight on Ukraine.
Thank you, Mr Chair, dear Mario, for setting out Croatia鈥檚 priorities for the Forum for Security Co-operation (FSC) this trimester.聽 As you execute the mandate of this Forum at a critical time for European Security, you can count on our full support.
Today marks 783 days since Russia鈥檚 unprovoked, full-scale and illegal invasion of Ukraine. 聽Actively facilitated by Belarus.聽 An invasion that continues to transgress OSCE principles and commitments.聽 Principles including sovereignty, territorial integrity and the right to be party to alliances.聽 Principles which Russia and Belarus co-wrote.聽 Russia鈥檚 invasion of Ukraine was not a failure of the OSCE鈥檚 principles and instruments. 聽It was a failure of Russian political will to implement its commitments faithfully.
Since 24 February 2022, the Ukrainian people have defended their homeland heroically.聽 Each week, we have supported Ukraine.聽 And each week, we have condemned President Putin鈥檚 strategic mistake of invading a sovereign neighbour.聽 皇冠体育app FSC鈥檚 work 鈥� through its tools and the principles it upholds 鈥� remain vital for security in the OSCE area.聽
We welcome your proposed FSC agenda which keeps the FSC spotlight on Ukraine. 聽We particularly welcome your joint FSC-PC Security Dialogue on Women, Peace and Security. 聽We must continue to champion women鈥檚 full, equal, meaningful, and safe participation in political and peace processes.聽 We must do so whilst also tackling gender-based violence, including conflict-related sexual violence.聽 皇冠体育app UK also supports your other Security Dialogues, including on Humanitarian Mine Action and Military Education.
Mr Chair, last trimester we condemned the Russian delegation for blocking consensus 鈥� again 鈥� on a FSC Security Dialogue on International Humanitarian Law.聽 We called out the Russian delegation鈥檚 continued misbehaviour 鈥� including its threats to future FSC Chairs.聽 This behaviour has no basis in our rules.聽 Once again, we urge the Russian delegation to stop blocking consensus on FSC dialogues 鈥� and to return to the diplomatic decorum that the rest of us practice.
I wish to conclude by welcoming Denmark to the FSC troika, and to thank Canada for their work as they leave the troika. 聽And most importantly, I wish you, Mr Chair, dear Mario, and your able team here in Vienna and in Zagreb the best of luck this trimester.聽 You can count on the full support of me and my delegation.