Statement by H.E. Ambassador ISHIKANE Kimihiro, Permanent Representative of Japan to the United Nations, at the United Nations Security Council Briefing "OSCE Chairperson-in-Office"
2023/5/4
(As delivered)
Merci monsieur le president.
I would first like to welcome the Foreign Minister of North Macedonia to the Security Council as the chair of the OSCE, and thank him for his insightful and comprehensive briefing.
As has been referred to by chairperson and other speakers, there exists, unfortunately, many places where conflict prevention based on the confidence-building is urgently needed, and such situation is further complicated and aggravated by Russia’s aggression against Ukraine that has caused negative and sometimes destabilizing impact around the world. In this context, we would like to express our respect to the OSCE for the important role it has played in confidence-building with the participation of a great number of countries with diverse values and perspectives.
Japan became the first OSCE Partner for Co-operation over 30 years ago, in 1992. Since then, Japan has actively participated in every OSCE Summit and Ministerial Council.
Japan is proud of the longstanding partnership in addressing common global security challenges. We have also enhanced cooperation with the OSCE in efforts toward democratization and regional stability.
For instance, Japan had dispatched experts to the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine, and has financially contributed to preventing human trafficking in Ukraine and surrounding countries, as well as to strengthening border control capacity in Central Asia and Afghanistan. This cooperation is based on the firm belief that peace and stability in the OSCE region is directly linked to that of the international community including the Asia-Pacific region.
Mr. President,
The international community is now at a historic turning point. The international order based on the rule of law, which we have been consistently upholding, is under threat. We are confronted with the unforgivable situation in which an OSCE Member State, which is at the same time a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council, has invaded another Member State. We recall the strong voice from the General Assembly last October that calls upon the OSCE to support the de-escalation of the current situation.
The need for comprehensive security through confidence-building based on dialogue, which the OSCE has been working on since its establishment, is greater than ever. His Excellency Mr. Bujar Osmani referred to the importance to put people at center, which Japan fully supports as we value the concept of human security. Japan will continue to cooperate with the OSCE to address a wide range of security challenges facing the international community, and to maintain and fortify the international order based on the rule of law.
Russia's aggression against Ukraine is an outrageous act that shakes the very foundation of the international order in every corner of the globe, and we condemn it again in the strongest terms. The international community must work together to voice its opposition, regardless of geographical boundaries, against this blatant violation of the UN Charter.
I thank you.
I would first like to welcome the Foreign Minister of North Macedonia to the Security Council as the chair of the OSCE, and thank him for his insightful and comprehensive briefing.
As has been referred to by chairperson and other speakers, there exists, unfortunately, many places where conflict prevention based on the confidence-building is urgently needed, and such situation is further complicated and aggravated by Russia’s aggression against Ukraine that has caused negative and sometimes destabilizing impact around the world. In this context, we would like to express our respect to the OSCE for the important role it has played in confidence-building with the participation of a great number of countries with diverse values and perspectives.
Japan became the first OSCE Partner for Co-operation over 30 years ago, in 1992. Since then, Japan has actively participated in every OSCE Summit and Ministerial Council.
Japan is proud of the longstanding partnership in addressing common global security challenges. We have also enhanced cooperation with the OSCE in efforts toward democratization and regional stability.
For instance, Japan had dispatched experts to the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine, and has financially contributed to preventing human trafficking in Ukraine and surrounding countries, as well as to strengthening border control capacity in Central Asia and Afghanistan. This cooperation is based on the firm belief that peace and stability in the OSCE region is directly linked to that of the international community including the Asia-Pacific region.
Mr. President,
The international community is now at a historic turning point. The international order based on the rule of law, which we have been consistently upholding, is under threat. We are confronted with the unforgivable situation in which an OSCE Member State, which is at the same time a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council, has invaded another Member State. We recall the strong voice from the General Assembly last October that calls upon the OSCE to support the de-escalation of the current situation.
The need for comprehensive security through confidence-building based on dialogue, which the OSCE has been working on since its establishment, is greater than ever. His Excellency Mr. Bujar Osmani referred to the importance to put people at center, which Japan fully supports as we value the concept of human security. Japan will continue to cooperate with the OSCE to address a wide range of security challenges facing the international community, and to maintain and fortify the international order based on the rule of law.
Russia's aggression against Ukraine is an outrageous act that shakes the very foundation of the international order in every corner of the globe, and we condemn it again in the strongest terms. The international community must work together to voice its opposition, regardless of geographical boundaries, against this blatant violation of the UN Charter.
I thank you.