Dapkiunas: OSCE Chairmanship gives Switzerland a chance to ease tensions in Europe

“The OSCE Chairmanship gives Swiss diplomacy a chance to make a practical contribution to defusing the growing tensions in Europe,” Belarus’ Permanent Representative Andrei Dapkiunas said welcoming but not congratulating his Swiss colleagues on the start of their OSCE Chairmanship. The diplomat explained: “Under today's conditions, congratulations are hardly appropriate. A Chairmanship carried out with honor is not a stroll, but arduous, often thankless work. We sincerely wish the Swiss Chairmanship consistency and persistence in honestly fulfilling the complex duties of an impartial mediator and responsible coordinator of the organization's work.”

“The events in recent years, and especially in recent weeks, convincingly show that the world order, which had been established over the post-war decades, is fundamentally changing. Appealing to long-standing interstate obligations in such a situation is understandable and legitimate. However, such references may ease one's conscience, but they are hardly capable of practically influencing the direction in which our world is moving. The formidable geopolitical challenges of our time evoke understandable anxiety in everyone. How can they be managed?” Andrei Dapkiunas noted.

“We believe that to move forward, we cannot avoid an honest and perhaps painful reflection on what happened to us and to our world, a reflection on what we did wrong,” Belarus' diplomat continued. “We need to do it to minimize the further destructive consequences of the reshaping of international relations and to attempt once again to steer them into a constructive, predictable course. So far, such reflection has not occurred in many European capitals. On the contrary, the logic of military escalation currently prevails in Europe.”

Andrei Dapkiunas continued: “Despite repeated calls from Belarus, such an honest collective conversation has still not taken place within the OSCE. A conversation about the origins, the genesis of the current situation, a conversation driven by the desire to better understand each other's concerns and apprehensions. We must admit: without the willingness to listen to and understand one's counterpart, any discussion promises zero return.”

“Perhaps it could take place within the framework of the Chairmanship's planned discussion on the historical heritage of the Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe. At a time when backstage whispers speculate about which year might be the OSCE's last, it would be misguided to plan work along traditional lines. It is impossible to seriously discuss promoting cooperation while fundamental questions about how to halt the madness of animosity and hatred, and the slow slide of the world toward military catastrophe, remain unanswered,” the Belarusian diplomat stated.

“To stop this madness, we all need to try together to overcome a simplified, black-and-white view of the world. A world divided into ‘us’ and ‘enemies’, into masters of the world and those whose aspirations and interests can be disregarded,” Andrei Dapkiunas emphasized. “Such a primitive worldview has already driven the world into the abyss of world wars twice. Of course, this is primarily a task for our national leaders. However, we believe the OSCE can also play its role. How? Belarus proposes to place the main emphasis on restoring the quality of interstate interaction within the OSCE.”

“Such changes at the headquarters in Vienna could help improve interaction between our capitals,” the Belarusian diplomat said. “We can start small. We propose to cease using OSCE forums as advertising propaganda platforms, to move away from political theater in the OSCE. We propose to focus not on routine events (often with zero return), but on balanced agenda-setting for meetings of the Permanent Council and the Forum for Security Cooperation, taking into account the interests and concerns of all participating states.”

Alongside this, the Belarusian diplomat emphasized: “Unfortunately, judging by the topic of today's specially convened Permanent Council meeting, the Swiss Chairmanship has so far been unable to go against the majority opinion and propose a balanced, consensus-based wording for the item on Ukraine. And consensus in our work is critically important.”