1505th (Special) Meeting of the OSCE Permanent Council
Statement by Dr Katie Mead, Australia’s Deputy Permanent Representative to the United Nations and International Organisations in Vienna
23 January 2025
Chair, Excellencies, colleagues
Thank you chair and congratulations to Finland on your leadership in 2025.
Australia will provide its full support to your Chairpersonship and looks forward to working with Participating States and Partners, especially this year, the 50th anniversary of the Helsinki Final Act.
Chair
It has been almost three years since Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine.
Russia’s actions are contrary to both international law and to the principles upon which the OSCE is founded.
Australia welcomes Finland’s intent to retain the preservation of Ukraine’s territorial integrity and sovereignty as central to the priorities of the OSCE.
Beyond Europe, Russia’s illegal war is threatening peace and security globally, including in the Indo-Pacific.
Deepening military cooperation between Russia and North Korea, including the deployment of North Korean troops to the battlefront as well as transfers of weapons to Russia, undermines the global non‑proliferation regime and violates United Nations Security Council resolutions for which Russia itself voted.
This deeply concerning development demonstrates how closely Europe and the Indo-Pacific are connected.
It also makes clear the criticality of the perspectives of the Asian Partners in the OSCE.
Our challenges, as well as our opportunities, are shared.
Chair
Australia also welcomes Finland’s decision to highlight the resilience of Participating States.
Hybrid and cyber-attacks, foreign interference, economic coercion, climate change and disinformation are all challenges to the integrity and resilience of our national and regional institutions.
The Asian Partners for Co-operation are well placed to share our perspectives on these transregional challenges.
Australia is investing nationally and in our international partnerships, to build our collective resilience and sovereignty; for example, through promoting and upholding internationally agreed rules and norms and promoting economic diversification and resilience in our region.
Chair
Australia welcomes your focus on promoting gender equality. We must strengthen efforts to eliminate gender inequalities, including political exclusion and the perpetration of all forms of sexual and gender-based violence.
We know that gender equality is the number one predictor of peace – more so than a state’s wealth, level of democracy or religious identity.
And we know that women’s participation and leadership in conflict prevention and peace processes improves outcomes before, during, and after conflict, and leads to longer-lasting peace.
Australia’s commitment to the Women, Peace and Security agenda is steadfast and enduring.
Chair
This year, Australia will continue to collaborate with our partners, including in the OSCE, to uphold the internationally agreed rules and norms that have long promoted peace and prosperity for all.
We will work together to maintain and strengthen the regional and global architecture required for a world where no country dominates, and no country is dominated.
A world where differences and disputes are managed through dialogue, and according to rules, not by force or power.
Chair, we look forward to supporting your agenda this year, and to continued collaboration with OSCE Participating States and Partners.
Thank you.