Minister Peter Burke speaks at security council
Minister for European Affairs, Mullingar’s Peter Burke met with a number of foreign ministers from across the world at the OSCE Ministerial Council, held in North Macedonia this week.
The Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) has members in Europe, North America and Asia and is the world’s largest regional security organisation. It works for stability, peace and democracy for more than a billion people, through political dialogue about shared values and through practical work.
Ireland is one of the 57 participating states, and Minister Burke represented us at talks this week where he met with newly appointed British Foreign Secretary David Cameron, US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken and other key figures.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov was also in attendance, although Minister Burke was one of an EU group who stood up and left the room when he spoke. Due to his presence, the Baltic countries of Estonia, Lithuania and Latvia elected to not attend the meeting.
As an organisation which was set up to maintain peace and stabilise security concerns, much of its discussions since February 2022 have centred on the Ukraine war and efforts to promote peace and the end of hostility in the region, the war in the Middle East was also a topic of discussion.
Speaking through the chair, Minister Burke said: "Minister Osmani, you emphasised that the OSCE is about people. The Russian Federation’s unprovoked and unjustified war of aggression against Ukraine continues to wreak devastation on the country and its people. The list of those who have been killed or maimed continues to grow.
"Entire communities, homes, schools, hospitals and other civilian objects continue to be destroyed. Millions of people have been displaced. Children have been forcibly deported and civilians detained for no reason.
"Many are subjected to horrifying torture and sexual violence by Russia’s forces. At the Warsaw Human Dimension Conference in October, we heard the chilling testimonies of civilians who have been arbitrarily and illegally detained by Russia. There is no justification for Russia’s actions in Ukraine."
Minister Burke went on to say the people of Ukraine are suffering the long term impacts of the destruction of the Kahovka Dam and the widespread use of land mines and unexploded ordnance.
"Russia’s ongoing attacks on civilian infrastructure, its threats to Ukrainian nuclear facilities and its decision to withdraw from the Black Sea Grain Initiative demonstrate Moscow’s contempt for the people of Ukraine and wider regional and global security.
"Ireland condemns Russia’s heinous attacks in the strongest possible terms. We call on the Russian Federation to immediately and unconditionally withdraw from Ukraine and release all detainees, including the three OSCE SMM personnel unjustly detained for more than a year and a half.
"Let me reiterate Ireland’s solidarity with the government and people of Ukraine as they defend themselves against Russia’s unprovoked aggression. Ireland will work with international partners to ensure accountability and to restore essential civilian infrastructure. Ireland will also continue to be a strong advocate for Ukraine’s EU membership aspirations.
"Regrettably, the number of people affected by or at risk of being impacted by conflict in the OSCE area continues to grow. Implementation of OSCE commitments in all dimensions is the best route to improve the lives of citizens in the OSCE area. Ensuring the full, equal and meaningful participation of women is crucial. We must implement a gender-responsive approach in all our work."
The minister finished off by saying that the OSCE, is organisation "we greatly value", but has "been without a unified budget since 2021, despite delivering sustainable results and very good value for money".
"For the organisation to flourish, it needs an approved budget and adequate resources. I urge all participating states to adequately fund its important work and place the organisation on a more sustainable footing."