Archives - Jean Chrétien

To the Summit of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe

This is the last Summit of the 20th century for the Organization of Security and Cooperation in Europe. A Summit that must set our course for a new millennium. Canada's membership in the OSCE is an essential part of our partnership with Europe. Our commitment to a Europe free of dividing lines. It also affirms the value we place on dialogue and collective action as the means to secure international peace and human dignity. In the next millennium, conflict prevention will be paramount.

Those broad objectives are at the core of Canada's support for the Charter for European Security. We welcome the adaptation of the Treaty on Conventional Forces in Europe, along with the Vienna Document 1999. These achievements will strengthen our trans-Atlantic security and the OSCE community.

Respect for the individual is at the centre of our OSCE commitment. I urge our membership to contribute more to human security by eliminating anti personnel mines, stemming the uncontrolled supply of small arms and light weapons, and countering the participation of children in armed conflicts.

The common goals of the OSCE are to ensure that states embrace fundamental human rights. Rights that must be upheld by courts that are fair and independent. Rights that include the freedom to hold dissenting points of view without fear of reprisal.

We also seek to foster tolerance and respect among all communities. This objective has special resonance in Canada. We have learned, over time, to look upon cultural diversity as a source of strength and harmony.

Far too often in recent years, ethnic nationalism has been exploited by cynical leaders to secure their hold on power. Unleashing a plague of atrocities and wanton destruction. Have we not learned the lessons of Bosnia or of Kosovo?

We must ensure that those who violate fundamental human rights are brought to justice. I applaud the efforts of the International Criminal Tribunal on the Former Yugoslavia to live up to this fundamental moral duty.

The OSCE is addressing numerous regional conflicts including in the North Caucasus. Canada completely respects the territorial integrity of Russia and the necessity to counter terrorism in all of its forms. But the current massive military campaign appears to us to be disproportionate. Such large scale operations are not the way to counter terrorism or banditry. They may, in fact, do just the opposite. And result in unacceptable civilian casualties and displacement. The Russian Federation must open a meaningful dialogue with the Chechen leadership immediately. Humanitarian organizations should be given access to the civilian population now.

Let us strengthen the OSCE and give it the tools to do the job. And make our shared dream of a free, safe and secure Europe a reality for all of her people.