Dear visitors,

On behalf of the Swiss Delegation to the Organization for Security and Cooperation (OSCE) in Vienna I am happy to welcome you. I have been Head of the Delegation as well as of the Swiss Mission to the United Nations and Other International Organisations in Vienna since September 2010. I also represent Switzerland at the weekly ambassadorial level meetings of the OSCE Permanent Council. The Permanent Council, in conjunction with the annual meeting of the Ministerial Council, is the central decision-making body and discussion forum for the 56 OSCE participating States. This forum makes it possible to discuss current relevant security issues – bearing in mind that the OSCE takes a comprehensive view of security – with all participating States. The Delegation also represents Swiss interests at various OSCE special conferences on such topics as human trafficking, arms control, cyber security and freedom of expression.

In 2014 Switzerland will hold the OSCE Chairmanship. Switzerland is thus the first country to chair the organisation for the second time – after the first presidency in 1996. The Chairmanship allows Switzerland to pursue some of her key aspects of foreign policy.

At the request of this year’s Irish Chairmanship, Switzerland has also undertaken a number of special tasks. These include chairing the Human Dimension Committee which deals with human rights, the rule of law and democracy. In the politico-military sphere Switzerland is in charge of coordinating modernisation of the most important confidence-building instrument in the OSCE region, the Vienna Document. These mandates reflect Switzerland’s reputation within the OSCE as a bridge builder and mediator.

Since the opening of Europe to the East, interest in a common security policy in the Euro-Atlantic and Eurasian area (integration of Central Asia) has grown. We are still far from a harmonious balancing of interests in the various OSCE regions however. Indeed, 20 years after the end of the Cold War there is still a deep divide between East and West. This is most evident with regard to arms control and confidence building measures. Such a deep division cannot serve the interests of our country. Furthermore, common strategies are indispensable if we are to successfully combat newly emerging transnational threats such as the trafficking of drugs and human beings, cyber crime and terrorism. The same holds true for the challenges of civil crisis management, conflict resolution and conflict prevention. There are a number of countries within the OSCE and around its margins that have the characteristics of fragile states, where internal conflicts could flare up in the foreseeable future. The OSCE must be ready to meet all such challenges. Switzerland, with an active and committed delegation in Vienna, is helping the OSCE to be well prepared to face these challenges, and can thus make an important contribution to the Euro-Atlantic and Eurasian security community agreed upon at the OSCE summit in Astana in 2010.

Ambassador Thomas Greminger