Minister for Foreign Affairs and Co-operation attends OSCE Special Permanent Council meeting

In his speech, José Manuel García-Margallo highlighted the need to review the ideologies that have structured the world since World War II and adapt them to the new reality. He underlined the inter-dependence stemming from accelerated globalisation and the cross-border nature of threats as factors lending new importance to regional organisations and strategies. Against this backdrop, Spain believes that the OSCE has been and continues to be a key instrument for consolidating peace and fostering prosperity in the Euro-Atlantic, Euro-Asia and Euro-Mediterranean regions.

As regards the crisis in Ukraine, the Spanish minister defended and recognised the fundamental role played by the OSCE in verifying compliance with the Minsk Protocol through the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine, in which Spain is involved. He reiterated that there can be no exceptions to respecting legality, the rule of law or the principles of territorial integrity, independence and State sovereignty. He said there is no military solution to the crisis in Ukraine, adding that the only way out of the conflict is through dialogue and application of the Minsk Protocol. He went on to say that the OSCE Monitoring Mission should be allowed to proceed under safe conditions.

As regards the future of the OSCE, the Spanish minister expressed Spain's support for the work begun within the framework of the Helsinki +40 Process for in-depth deliberation and said the OSCE should be allowed to develop its full potential.

José Manuel García-Margallo highlighted the need to strengthen the Mediterranean aspects of the OSCE in order to tackle certain threats and challenges, such as international terrorism and migration. Spain is actively promoting a climate of dialogue and cooperation with the countries on the southern shores of the Mediterranean and believes that quality dialogue within the Contact Group is an asset unto itself.

As regards immigration, the Spanish minister expressed Spain's support for those initiatives that - within the scope of the United Nations and the OSCE - may possibly help tackle this complex matter, which requires an approach that considers the medium- and long-term challenges as well as emergency responses. He added that this is a challenge that not only affects the Mediterranean countries but all the States concerned, whether they be countries of origin, transit or destination.

As regards the fight against terrorism, radicalism and violent extremism, and the response to the phenomenon of overseas combatants, José Manuel García-Margallo argued that the OSCE should include these issues in its debates. He said Spain is due to organise a meeting of the UN Counter-Terrorism Committee on overseas terrorist combatants in July and recalled a number of the specific proposals made by Spain in this regard, such as the appointment of a Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for the fight against violent extremism and the creation of a specialised international jurisdictional mechanism to avoid impunity.

José Manuel García-Margallo welcomed the increase in OSCE initiatives in the field of preventive diplomacy and mediation, and concluded his speech by reaffirming the full validity of the values and principles that underpin the OSCE as an organisation. "Security and prosperity stem from joining together, not division", he concluded.