MINSK, 13 January (BelTA) - Proper level of security and interaction is possible only through dialogue, Permanent Representative of Belarus to the OSCE Andrei Dapkiunas said when speaking at the Special Meeting of the OSCE Permanent Council in Vienna on 13 January 2022, BelTA has learned.
During the event, Poland, that will hold the OSCE chairmanship in 2022, presented the organization's priorities for this period.
In this regard, Andrei Dapkiunas stressed: "The Belarusian delegation welcomes the Polish minister of foreign affairs to the Permanent Council meeting and thanks him for presenting the priorities of the OSCE Chairmanship-in-Office and the vision for the development of our organization. We are grateful to you for the declared openness in discussing ways to ensure a comprehensive and indivisible security."
"It is in the light of building a comprehensive, co-operative and indivisible security community throughout our shared OSCE area, as stated in the final declaration of the OSCE summit in Astana in 2010, that we see both the statement made by the Russian delegation today and the recent Russian proposals for security guarantees,” Andrei Dapkiunas said.
Belarus always stands for a broad dialogue aimed at overcoming contradictions and reducing confrontation, he said.
In particular, Andrei Dapkiunas emphasized: "We remain convinced that it is only through dialogue that we can achieve a proper level of security and interaction. We are impressed by the emphasis that the current presidency intends to place on the quality of our discussions. This bodes well for the effectiveness of our interaction."
The Belarusian representative expressed the opinion that it is the lack of effectiveness that is the weakest point in the common work. He is confident that positive changes in this matter are possible if each member of the OSCE tries not only to voice their grievances but does their best to do so in a way as not to alienate the partner but, on the contrary, to build new bridges of trust and understanding.
“We noted that the distinguished Chairperson-in-Office called ‘a demonstration of strength through good deeds' as one of the prerequisites for the OSCE's success. This approach appeals to Belarus. The true greatness of power, including in world politics, does not lie in the ability to destroy. True power is manifested in mercy and generosity,” said Andrei Dapkiunas.
As an example of this high-born display of political power, he cited the joint statement issued ten days ago by the leaders of the five nuclear-weapon states on preventing nuclear war and an arms race. “Four of these states are members of our organization. Such momentous documents should not be lost in the stream of routine words. Their unique humanistic boost can and should be used to overcome hostility everywhere, including our organization,” Belarus' permanent representative to the OSCE said.
According to the Belarusian diplomat, given the COVID-19 difficult legacy, the focus of the Polish chairmanship on the exchange of best practices of economic recovery and modernization, including by reducing risks, promoting entrepreneurship and human development in general, seems justified.
“We consider it necessary to state our rejection of the sanctions approach, which does not correspond to either the letter or to the spirit of the Helsinki process. In the organization uniquely built on the principle of universal consent, the role of the chairperson is particularly difficult and delicate. Some may disagree with me, but it seems to me that the ideal chairperson is almost invisible in their work. The important invisible work of the chairperson comes through only indirectly: in the rapprochement of the organization participants, in a greater goodwill and restraint, in the dialogue where there is a place for empathy,” Andrei Dapkiunas stressed.
The Belarusian diplomat expressed his hope that the Polish chairmanship would be able to ensure continuity of efforts of the previous chairmanships and effectively organize collective work in the OSCE in the spirit of unbiased and fair mediation with equal attention to interests and priorities of all member states.
Belarus will preside at the OSCE Forum for Security Cooperation in H3 2022. A joint meeting of the OSCE Permanent Council and the OSCE Forum for Security Cooperation are due in June.
