Address
of Mr. Adrian Severin, MP (Romania)
President of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly
Mr. Chairman,
Distinguished Presidents
of Parliaments and Parliamentary Assemblies, Ladies and Gentlemen,
First I would like to
congratulate the Parliament of the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia
for initiating and organizing this Conference. I see the Conference
as an important link in the chain of promoting the parliamentary cooperation
in the South-East-Europe. Such cooperation is essential for the progress
and stability in this troubled region. It is essential for the success
of the Stability Pact that the legislators of all countries concerned
are closely involved. The building of stabile and prosperous states
requires legislative, budgetary and other such action, which in a democracy
falls to the authority and responsibility of the elected parliament.
At the Summit Conference
of the Presidents of National Parliaments and Parliamentary Assemblies
in Zagreb in September 2000, where several of us were present, I made
a short assessment about the Stability Pact. I expressed my feelings
of hope, but warned against oversatisfaction. Peoples in the region
have not yet felt the benefits of the Pact. They think that there are
too many words and too few deeds. I am afraid that nothing has changed
in this respect during the last six months.
At the end of the 20th
Century, South Eastern Europe underwent fundamental changes. This inevitable
process has been painful and its end is not in sight. In the Balkans
the process included bitter conflict, even brutal wars. Violence seems
to be continuing, at least in and around, Kosovo. We must learn from
these bitter experiences. We have to accept that the only way to overcome
the present difficulties is to promote a strategy of common projects,
which will allow us to replace the endless identity crisis and conflicts
with the solidarity of interests. This should also imply the transfer
of wealth from the prosperous West to the poorer East instead of transferring
instability from the poorer East to the prosperous West.
In solving the problems
in South-East Europe the role and contribution of the international
community, through its institutions, is vital. But in the end, the results
depend on the countries and peoples of the South-East Europe themselves.
The credit of success must belong to them - not to the international
community. And the same goes for the blame.
The work of the OSCE is
based on the realization of the fact that there is a strong and inseparable
link and interaction between the promotion of peace and stability, the
development of economic prosperity, and the implementation of democracy,
human rights and the rule of law. This interaction was already recognized
in the creation of the three baskets of the Helsinki Final Act. The
OSCE's involvement in the South-East Europe is also based on this realization.
The basic philosophy of the Stability Pact, as expressed by the creation
of its three Working Tables, is similar to a very large extent. In our
work we do not need to reinvent the wheel. What we need is to implement
the agreed European standards, such as our OSCE commitments and duties
as members of such institutions as the Council of Europe. That includes
the strengthening of the rule of law, respect of human rights, respect
of minority rights and the fight against corruption.
South-East Europe needs
integration: integration of values and integration of economies. Societies,
which are integrated, have common interests. They cooperate with each
other. They do not fight each other. Integration makes them strong.
Isolation makes them weak. As legislators, it is our particular responsibility
to make sure that our national legislation, in particular concerning
democracy, human rights and the rule of law, is in conformity with agreed
European standards. Significant progress has been made since the collapse
of totalitarian systems, but we still have a very long way to go. Economic
integration is also essential. We need to develop infrastructure and
we need to further economic cooperation. And we also need to promote
- in cooperation - conflict prevention and crisis management. In this
field the OSCE, with its important assets, remains at your disposal.
For instance, we have, altogether, seven field Missions in South Eastern
Europe. Now that Yugoslavia has rejoined the OSCE, they all will soon
be fully operational.
There has been some significant
progress since our meeting in Zagreb in September. During that meeting
I expressed my disappointment for the fact that Yugoslavia had remained
isolated. This isolation, imposed by themselves, was a major obstacle
to progress in several areas and it raised concerns and even fears.
I am very pleased that some of my fears have not been realized. I join
those colleagues who welcome the presence of our Yugoslav colleague
at this conference. Last autumn Yugoslavia returned to the OSCE. That
made the OSCE stronger. That also made Yugoslavia stronger, and most
of all, that gave new hope to South-East Europe. Yugoslavia's reentry
to the institutions of the international community has also made it
easier for them to tackle their own internal problems which need urgent
attention. The victory of democracy in Yugoslavia was not the end of
the road. It was a beginning. We want our Yugoslavian friends to know
that they have our support and best wishes.
Mr. Chairman,
The new serious challenge
is the worsening situation in and around Kosovo. I am particularly concerned
about the acts of violence in the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia,
which had so far avoided the horrors of war. We must all do our utmost
to stop such acts of violence. The only way to solve disputes, and there
are such, is by peaceful means, respecting the OSCE commitments. Violence
cannot be tolerated in democracies. When discussing the present crisis
in our host country, I want, first of all, emphasize the recognition
of the territorial integrity of the country. There is an urgent need
to defend this integrity. 1) In this respect it is essential to strengthen
the control of borders. The KFOR, which has been entrusted with important
obligations in Kosovo, should participate actively. 2) At the same time
it is important that the international community help our host country
to develop its own institutions of non-military nature to better control
their national borders. 3) It is also essential to fully implement the
agreement of disarming the entire KLA. 4) This should be combined with
appropriate measures to ensure an alternative civil life to the former
worriers who are used to handle the tools of confrontation instead of
weapons of cooperation. These measures would help to stop the present
violence. 5) In the longer run it is essential to build up a just society
where all members feel equal and safe. I call upon all sections of the
Macedonian society to participate in, and contribute to the building
up of such a society. This should lead to a civic multicultural state
as we wish to see everywhere in Europe. I want to ensure you that the
OSCE will continue to be at your disposal. I am pleased to inform you
that the Chairman-in-Office of the OSCE has decided to appoint his personal
representative to help solve the crisis. It has also been decided to
strengthen the OSCE Mission in Skopje. We will continue to work with
you.
Mr. Chairman,
I would like, once again,
express my satisfaction with your initiative to organize this Conference.
This initiative is particularly important since it comes from the region
itself, it involves political leaders from the region itself and it
takes place in the region itself. Regional parliamentary cooperation
is important. We have several good examples: the Nordic Countries, the
Benelux, the Baltic States, CIS and the Black Sea Region. I repeat my
earlier recommendation to South Eastern Europe to learn from these experiences
Mr. Chairman,
Implementing the Stability
Pact is a long process. I am afraid it will be longer than we would
wish. It will certainly require a parliamentary dimension. Therefore
I would like to make two suggestions for your consideration:
Firstly, I suggest that
the Parliaments in South-East Europe agree on aims and formalities of
their permanent cooperation, learning from experiences in other regions,
as I explained above. But they must make their decision based on their
own requirements. I am pleased that the final statement of this Conference
will include an agreement on such permanent cooperation. The OSCE Parliamentary
Assembly will be happy to support and cooperate with this process.
Secondly, the present
Stability Pact structures also need a parliamentary dimension. Each
area - each Working Table - needs such a dimension of its own. To provide
such a dimension should be the responsibility of the three main European
Parliamentary Institutions; the European Parliament, the Parliamentary
Assembly of the Council of Europe and the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly.
Each of these three institutions should appoint a member to each of
the Working Tables. These nine parliamentarians would be responsible
for the parliamentary dimension of the Stability Pact. They would involve
the parliaments of the region through their own institutions but they
should also, when deemed appropriate, be in direct contact with these
Parliaments. This kind of cooperation has already been tentatively discussed
between the three institutions and also with Mr. Bodo Hombach. I am
now asking for your support to the idea and I would welcome your comments
and suggestions. I also reiterate the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly's
offer, made at the Summit in Zagreb, to organize, under its auspices,
meetings of representatives of agreed structures in order to exchange
views and co-ordinate in the best possible manner to promote parliamentary
efforts dedicated to the implementation of the Stability Pact. Such
meetings could concentrate on specific problems, such as security concerns
in and around Kosovo, promotion of investments or fighting corruption.
Mr. Chairman,
Once again, I want to
thank our Macedonian hosts for inviting us to this important Conference
and for their hospitality. I am sure that this Conference will serve
the purposes of the Stability Pact and help us to shape up our permanent
cooperation.
