OSCEs parlamentariske Forsamling 2010-11 (1. samling)
OSCE Alm.del Bilag 50
Offentligt
To the Permanent Representatives of the OSCE Participating States
Vienna
27 June 2011
Dear Ambassador,
Taking in consideration the last developments on the nomination of the Secretary-General of theOSCE I would like, as candidate, to formally ask you, and your government, to break the silenceprocedure adopted on the last meeting (three minutes during a retreat in Baden!) of the PermanentCouncil.The procedure followed after the fist veto, and especially after the veto to the Austrian candidate,lacks transparency and jeopardizes the OSCE principles and commitments. If this process wasfollowed in one of the Participating States during an election the OSCE would be the first tocondemn it and to consider it contrary to the principles of democracy and transparency that are thecore of the OSCE’s Human Dimension commitments.There are, however, some other points that I would like to rise:The point of having an "enhanced political level" profile for the position of Secretary-General of the OSCE was made several times by many Governments, namely during theAstana Summit.The necessity to appoint a Secretary-General with a clearly marked high political profilewas also recalled in several interventions during the selection of the four candidates inVienna.
On the selection process:
The numbers of preferences received by each candidate have been disclosed only to veryfew people (countries of the four candidates and a few others) thus raising discontent anddistrust in the process. Plus from various sources these results have been disclosed butwith contrasting figures. In some cases the number of preferences exceeded the number ofparticipating states!!! The numbers were clearly manipulated.
Once two of the candidates had been vetoed, the chair should have not used the number ofpreferences obtained in the context where four participants were running as the base forchoosing between the two remaining candidates. This is a very basic violation of any logicalrules of fairness. The initial results (however controversial as they seem to be) wereobtained under totally different circumstances.
The Ministers, who had indicated overwhelmingly that they preferred a political profileSecretary-General, should have been given the opportunity to choose between the tworemaining candidates.
The Ministers should have been asked if they still wanted a political profile candidate or ifthey wanted to go back to the old tradition of having a candidate coming from the ranks ofthe diplomatic core.
Once it was clear that the Ministers wanted one type of profile, then the consensus shouldhave been sought for that particular candidate (political or diplomat).
These proceedings are obviously orchestrated by a few who are clearly ignoring theinstructions/political indications they got from their authorities but use the fact that theMinisters are distracted by other activities to manipulate the selection in favour of thecandidate that guarantees their interests and the status quo.
This race is a battle between those who saw an opportunity in the fact that a political profileSecretary-General might introduce a new fresh air and bring more political relevance to theorganization and those who are strenuous defenders of the status quo and low profile for theOrganization, preventing a true political control.
I hope that you may consider these arguments and stop the current silence procedure. The OSCEdeserves a brighter future!
João Soares
Assembleia da República
Palácio de S. Bento, 1249-068 Lisboa
Portugal
Mobile: +351 91 9306352
