2024 OSCE Asian Conference - Country Statement by Australia
15 October 2024
Statement delivered by Ana Centilmen, Alternate Permanent Representative, Australian Permanent Mission in Vienna
Thank you, Chair.
I would like to commend our fellow Asian Partner for Cooperation, Japan, and North Macedonia as Chair of the Asian Partners for Co-operation Group for co-hosting this Conference. Australia is grateful for the significant contribution both have made to the Asian Partners and welcome the consensus decision of the OSCE to enable the Conference to proceed.
We also acknowledge Malta’s Chairpersonship of the OSCE and its ongoing leadership, including ensuring Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine remains its first priority.
Australia values the opportunity to work with the Asian Partners to bring an Indo-Pacific perspective to the deliberations of the OSCE. The OSCE region and the Indo-Pacific are connected. Our challenges, as well as our opportunities, are shared.
We welcome the exchange of insights that this valuable Conference offers. I am pleased that Dr David Dutton, Assistant Secretary for Climate Diplomacy of the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, will share Australia’s perspectives during tomorrow’s session on climate change.
Climate change is an existential threat to our region and the world – the effects of which are likely to bear even more heavily in the coming decades – contributing to economic disruption and impacting human security.
The OSCE comprises a critical part of the rules-based multilateral system, a system which is under increasing strain. We recognise the efforts expressed here today, and in other OSCE fora, to reaffirm commitments to the fundamental principles of the OSCE, the UN Charter and international law.
Australia continues to condemn Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine. We strongly support Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial intergrity, and are working closely with our partners, including in the Indo-Pacific, to help Ukraine end the war on its own terms, and to maintain pressure on Russia, including by consistently calling on China to use its influence with Russia to help bring an end to the war. We welcome the contributions of the OSCE and many participating States and Partners to these efforts.
Australia remains committed to full implementation of the Women, Peace and Security agenda. We know that gender equality is the number one predictor of peace. And we know that when women are engaged in peace processes, outcomes are improved – before, during, and after conflicts – for everyone. That is why Australia has a proud history of championing the Women, Peace and Security agenda. We are grateful for the centrality of the Women, Peace and Security agenda to the Chair-in-Office and the Asian Partners.
As an Asian Partner for Co-operation, Australia will continue to work with other Partners to bolster cooperation and build resilience to our shared global security challenges.
Thank you, Chair.