Peace through dialogue: OSCE receives Munich Security Conference award for its contribution to peace and stability in Europe
Bern,
Press releases, 07.02.2015
On Saturday evening, the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) received this year's Ewald von Kleist Award. The award is given by the Munich Security Conference to honour outstanding contributions to international peace and conflict resolution. In his acceptance speech on behalf of the OSCE Troika, Federal Councillor Didier Burkhalter emphasised the importance of continuity in the OSCE's work.
The OSCE is the first organisation to have received the Munich Security Conference award. Serbian Foreign Minister and OSCE Chairperson-in-Office Ivica Dacic, Federal Councillor Didier Burkhalter and German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier together with the OSCE Secretary-General Lamberto Zannier received the Ewald von Kleist Award – a silver medal with the inscription "Frieden durch Dialog" (Peace through Dialogue) – in a ceremony hosted by the Minister-President of Bavaria Horst Seehofer. Serbia, Switzerland (OSCE Chair in 2014) and Germany (OSCE Chair in 2016), together known as the 'Troika', are currently responsible for steering the OSCE.
Following the laudatio given by former UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan, in his acceptance speech Federal Councillor Didier Burkhalter stressed the role of the OSCE as a bridge-builder, saying the OSCE stood for shared dialogue, shared commitment and shared efforts to find solutions to challenges that concern everyone. "To honour the OSCE is to honour an idea – the idea of security as a shared and comprehensive project of all," said the head of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs and 2014 OSCE Chairperson-in Office. He went on to say that, at a time when as a consequence of the Ukraine crisis the European security was being called into question, political leadership, responsibility and unfailing commitment to maintain dialogue were demanded – principles that were founded on the OSCE's understanding of security as a common project and that must continue to be upheld in the future. He added that to ensure that the OSCE can both safeguard and enhance its capacity to act, it must be willing to undergo reform. He concluded his speech saying: "To accept this award is to thank the OSCE and its idea of peace and security, its principles and its people, and to offer it lasting support."
The Ewald von Kleist Award, named after the founder of the Munich Security Conference who headed the organisation for many years, has honoured special contributions to peace and conflict resolution since 2009. Previous recipients include the former US Secretary of State Henry Kissinger (2009), the former EU High Representative for Common Foreign and Security Policy Javier Solana (2010), as well as former German Chancellor Helmut Schmidt and former French President Valéry Giscard d’Estaing, who received the award jointly in 2014.
Address for enquiries:
Information FDFA Bundeshaus West CH-3003 Bern Tel.: +41 58 462 31 53 Fax: +41 58 464 90 47 E-Mail: info@eda.admin.ch
Restoring security in Europe will necessitate a shared and sustained commitment by all states. At today's Munich Security Conference, the Head of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs, Didier Burkhalter, emphasised this necessity and the key role to be played by the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe in this process.
The situation in Ukraine and its consequences for European security are the focus of discussions at this year's Security Conference in Munich. Through his participation in various events on the margins of the conference, Mr Burkhalter underscored that the restoration of security and confidence in Europe must be a joint undertaking of all states which will require a sustained commitment. This is a high priority for Switzerland, which is also working to this end within the 'Troika' responsible for steering the OSCE, in which it takes part as last year's Chair of the organisation, together with Serbia and Germany.
Mr Burkhalter also thinks that the OSCE plays a central role in rebuilding security and confidence in Europe: The OSCE already proven its bridge-building function during the difficult context of the Ukraine crisis, and was successful in maintaining the dialogue between the different actors. It is also a platform for in-depth discussion on the future of European security. In this regard, Mr Burkhalter also recalled that at the OSCE Ministerial Conference in Basel in December 2014, Switzerland set up a Panel of Eminent Persons from across the OSCE region which was tasked with drawing up recommendations on how to re-establish trust and safeguard security in Europe as a common undertaking. The panel will meet for the first time on Sunday at the Munich Security Conference.
In order for the OSCE to be able to fulfil its important role, stressed Mr Burkhalter, it must be able to act. For this reason, he also called on the OSCE to undertake reforms. Only then will the OSCE be able to build on its strengths as a platform for dialogue and a forum for discussions on lasting security that include, for example, the fight against terrorism and economic and social aspects. In this context, Mr Burkhalter specifically mentioned the need to involve young people in deliberations on long-term goals.
On Saturday afternoon, Mr Burkhalter will meet with the Serbian Foreign Minister and OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, Ivica Dacic, and the German Foreign Minister, Frank-Walter Steinmeier, within the framework of the OSCE Troika. Their talks will also focus on the situation in Ukraine and the role of the OSCE in searching for a political solution to the conflict and the future of European security.
Address for enquiries:
Information FDFA Bundeshaus West CH-3003 Bern Tel.: +41 58 462 31 53 Fax: +41 58 464 90 47 E-Mail: info@eda.admin.ch
