Interpretative statement at the MC in relation to the decision on the appointment of the OSCE Secretary General
INTERPRETATIVE STATEMENT UNDER PARAGRAPH IV.1(A)6 OF THE RULES OF PROCEDURE OF THE ORGANIZATION FOR SECURITY AND CO-OPERATION IN EUROPE
In relation to the decision on the appointment of the OSCE Secretary General, we would like to make the following interpretative statement under paragraph IV.1(A)6 of the OSCE Rules of Procedure on behalf of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Iceland, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Monaco, Norway, Romania, Sweden, Switzerland and Canada.
We reiterate our gratitude to Malta's Chairpersonship for their leadership in forging consensus on critical issues, thereby enhancing the OSCE's effectiveness.
We welcome the appointment of Mr. Feridun H. Sinirlioğlu as Secretary General of the OSCE and we reiterate our commitment to the work of the Secretary General and the OSCE Secretariat.
We regret that consensus on the leadership of the Organization could not be reached earlier, leading to extended vacancies in these critical positions. This should not set a precedent for future similar decisions.
We reiterate the importance of cooperative decisions on the leadership of the Organization and the autonomous institutions that should be based on individual candidates and their ability to support OSCE principles and commitments. As participating States, we should avoid politicization of the consensus-based process and return to the spirit of multilateralism that guides our collaborative decision process.
Furthermore, we as participating States should strive to ensure gender equality in the leadership of the organization, including by putting forward more women as candidates.
The Secretary General role is to be guided by MC Decision 15/04. We recall that the Secretary General derives his/her authority from the collective decisions of the participating States and acts under the guidance of the Chairman-in-Office, and that as representative of the Chairperson-in-Office supports him/her in all activities aimed at fulfilling the goals of the OSCE. We also recall that as Chief Administrative Officer of the OSCE the Secretary General is responsible to the Permanent Council for the efficient use of the Organization’s resources and, as head of the OSCE Secretariat, is responsible for its effective and efficient management.
We would like to request that this statement be attached to the decision and reflected in the journal of the day.