STATEMENT BY H.E. MR. YUKIO TAKASU
PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVE OF JAPAN TO THE UNITED NATIONS

AT THE OSCE BRIEFING AT THE SECURITY COUNCIL

THEMATIC OPEN DEBATE 
February 5, 2010

Mr. President,

Thank you very much, Mr. President. I too would like to extend warm welcome to the presence of Foreign Minister, His Excellency Mr. Kanat Saudabayev and thank for his useful briefing on the prior issues in front of the OSCE.   

Japan, as a Partner for Cooperation of the OSCE and also a good friend of Kazakhstan, congratulate him and place high expectations to Chairperson-in-Office for his proactive efforts in leading the OSCE. I wish His Excellency the best in his capacity to contribute to the peace and stability of Europe and the entire Eurasian continent.  

The security in the European region is integrally related to that of the Asia and the Pacific. It is essential for the OSCE to address global threats through close cooperation between Europe and Asia. Partnership for Cooperation makes good contribution to broaden security concern of the OSCE.

A significant example of such inter-reliance is the OSCE’s increasing engagement in the stabilization of Afghanistan. For its part, we are doing a lot of things, including a contribution last year for five OSCE projects to improve border security of Central Asian countries, which border with Afghanistan. Such projects help enhance peace and stability in Afghanistan, but also in the wider Central Asia region.

Japan believes the cross-dimensional, comprehensive security agenda of the OSCE could be effectively addressed through emphasizing human security, human-centered perspective. I was personally involved in organizing several initiatives in promoting human security in OSCE activities. Japan appreciates strong interest and close cooperation the OSCE has demonstrated in promoting human security perspective on issues such as ethnic reconciliation, movement of people, human trafficking and environmental degradation. We endorse and strongly support Kazakhstan’s priority agenda, with its strong emphasis on the human dimension.

Japan pays tribute also to the important role of the OSCE in supporting the democratization process in Eurasian regions. We have been actively cooperating in assisting free and fair elections in many OSCE countries including Ukraine through sending election monitors.

I would like to emphasize the particular value of regular dialogue between the Security Council and the OSCE, which are mutually benefiting and supportive.

Let me reiterate Japan’s commitment to closely cooperate with the OSCE and support the chairmanship of Kazakhstan.

We hope good preparatory work will be made for a successful summit.

Thank you Mr. President.