Incoming 2014 OSCE Chair Swiss Foreign Minister Burkhalter to EuroFora:PanEuropean Security/Defence?

*Strasbourg/CoE/Angelo Marcopolo/- Realistic, in front of difficulties, but also Conscious of the Great Ideal that succesful efforts to build a compromise for a PanEuropean Security/Defence mechanism, after recent attempts by Russia, France, Greece and other European Countries to help find a Deal with the USA and all involved Countries, the forthcoming OSCE Chairman for Next Year, Swiss vice-President and Foreign Minister Didier Burkhalter, replying to a relevant "EuroFora"s question, advised not to expect everything in just one year, but confirmed that such efforts would be included in Switzerland's 2014 OSCE presidency.

The move Timely comes almost at the same moment that the EU is due to have taken strategic Decisions on its own Common Security and Defence policy at the forthcoming December 2013 EU Summit in Brussels, prepared under the forthcoming Lithuanian rotating Chairmanship (6-12/2013) and starting to implement it in  practice during the following, rotating EU chair by Greece (1-6/2014).

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 - "EuroFora" asked President Burkhalter if, during Switzerland's 2014 OSCE Chairmaship, he intended to work also for something which hasn't been yet achieved, despite previous attempts also during the 2008 French EU Presidency, the Greek OSCE 2009 chairmanship, etc.,namely to find a compromise with the USA and other Countries for the creation of a PanEuropean Common Security and Defence mechanism : Do you wish and have any Hope to advance in this direction, or not ?", "EuroFora" questioned.
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 - "Concerning the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe,for the Future, ...naturaly, we would like to try (in 2014) to do what you said, i.e. to build a real common Foreign and Security mechanism (and policy)", the Swiss vice-President positively replied to "EuroFora"s question from the outset.

- Because, indeed, "this is a Great Ideal,   and an Essential Element of the Program and of the Momentum, also under the "Helsinki +40" process, etc, the experienced Swiss Foreign Minister agreed, as a matter of principle.

- "But we must be Realistic, and stick rather to pragmatic aims for our Chairmanship, since it looks difficult  to achieve that completely in only one Annual OSCE Chairmanship period, or even if we work together with the following OSCE's rotating chair, etc", he warned.

 - "So, it's better to be extremely Modest. I don't want to launch great expectations, just to find ourselves afterwards in a well known situation inside the OSCE, i.e. that of a Deadlock. I remind that, f.ex.  on "Human Dimension", during the last 3 Years, not any real Decision was ever taken with full consensus. It's a fact that tensions are real, and it's better not to claim that everything would be settled just during the Annual Swiss' Chairmanship of 2014", the competent Swiss Minister soberly observed.                                                                                                                                                                                                      

 - At any case, "We (the forthcoming Swiss 2014 OSCE Chairmanship) wish to work in an Inclusive way,  we are intensively Consulting all Partners due to be important in such kind of issues, so that we can open Areas of Agreement, in the framework of the OSCE", vice-President Burkhalter anounced, nevertheless, with resolve.

Speaking earlier at CoE's PanEuropean Parliamentary Assembly's Plenary Session, Switzerland's vice-President; Foreign Minister Didier Burkhalter, added also Switzerland's intention to cooperate, on this occasion, in certain key issues of common interest, as Peace-building, Minorities' protection, Democracy and Human Rights/Rule of Law, etc., with the CoE, i.e. confirming anew Switzerland''s world-famous GeoPoliticaly strategic position in the middle between Strasbourg and Wienna...

(.../..)

(Fast Translation from the original in French)

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