Istanbul, November 1999
1. At the dawn of the twenty-first century we, the Heads of State or Government of the OSCE participating States, declare our firm commitment to a free, democratic and more integrated OSCE area where participating States are at peace with each other, and individuals and communities live in freedom, prosperity and security. To implement this commitment, we have decided to take a number of new steps. We have agreed to:
- Adopt the Platform for Cooperative Security, in order to strengthen cooperation between the OSCE and other international organizations and institutions, thereby making better use of the resources of the international community;
- Develop the OSCE's role in peacekeeping, thereby better reflecting the Organization's comprehensive approach to security;
- Create Rapid Expert Assistance and Cooperation Teams (REACT), thereby enabling the OSCE to respond quickly to demands for assistance and for large civilian field operations;
- Expand our ability to carry out police-related activities in order to assist in maintaining the primacy of law;
- Establishing an Operation Centre, in order to plan and deploy OSCE field operations;
- Strengthen the consultation process within the OSCE by establishing the Preparatory Committee under the OSCE Permanent Council.
We are committed to preventing the outbreak of violent conflicts wherever possible. The steps we have agreed to take in this Charter will strengthen the OSCE's ability in this respect as well as its capacity to settle conflicts and to rehabilitate societies ravaged by war and destruction. The Charter will contribute to the formation of a common and indivisible security space. It will advance the creation of an OSCE area free of dividing lines and zones with different levels of security.
1. OUR COMMON CHALLENGES
2.The last decade of the twentieth century has brought great achievements in the OSCE area, cooperation has replaced previous confrontation, but the danger of conflicts between States has not been eliminated. We have put Europe's old divisions behind us, but new risks and challenges have emerged. Since we signed the Charter of Paris it has become more obvious (hat threats to our security can stem from conflicts within States as well as from conflicts between States. We have experienced conflicts which have often resulted from flagrant violations of OSCE norms and principles. We have witnessed atrocities of a kind we had thought were relegated to the past. I n this decade it has become clear that all such conflicts can represent a threat to the security of all OSCE participating States.
3. We are determined to learn from the dangers of confrontation and division between States as well as from tragedies of the last decade. Security and peace must be enhanced through an approach which combines two basic elements, we must build confidence among people within States and strengthen cooperation between States. Therefore, we will strengthen existing instruments and develop new ones to provide assistance and advice. We will reinforce our efforts to ensure full respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms, including the rights of persons belonging to national minorities. In parallel, we will strengthen our capacity to enhance confidence and security between States. We are determined to develop the means at our disposal to settle peacefully disputes between them.
|
|
|
4.International terrorism, violent extremism, organized crime and drug
trafficking represent growing challenges to security. Whatever its motives,
terrorism in all its forms and manifestations is unacceptable. We will enhance our efforts to prevent the preparation and financing of any act of terrorism on our territories and deny terrorists safe havens. The excessive and destabilizing accumulation and uncontrolled spread of small arms and light weapons represent a threat to peace and security. We are committed to strengthening our protection against these new risks and challenges; strong democratic institutions and the rule of law are the foundation for this protection. We are also determined to cooperate more actively and closely with each other to meet these challenges.
5.Acute economic problems and environmental degradation may have
serious implications for our security. Cooperation in the fields of economy,
science and technology and the environment will be of critical importance.
We will strengthen our responses to such threats through continued
economic and environmental reforms, by stable and transparent frameworks
for economic activity and by promoting market economies, while paying
due attention to economic and social rights. We applaud the unprecedented
process of economic transformation taking place in many participating
States. We encourage them to continue this reform process, which will
contribute to security and prosperity in the entire OSCE area. We will
step up our efforts across all dimensions of the OSCE to combat corruption
and to promote the rule of law.
6.We confirm that security in areas nearby, in particular in the
Mediterranean area as well as areas in direct proximity to participating
States, such as those of Central Asia, is of increasing importance to the
OSCE. We recognize that instability in these areas creates challenges that
directly affect the security and prosperity of OSCE States. [... ]
XXIV. Translate into Russian.
