BUCHAREST: CRO. FOREIGN MINISTER OPENS FIRST OSCE PLENARY SESSION

BUCHAREST, Dec 3 (Hina) - The world today must show the utmost political realism and courage to act in full unity in order to create and preserve stability and security, Croatia's Foreign Minister Tonino Picula said in Bucharest on Monday opening the first plenary session of the OSCE Ministerial Council. The Sept. 11 terrorist attacks on the United States have brought new security requirements and the need of tighter unity among democratic countries in Europe and the world, said Picula. Recalling that at the time of its establishment, the then Conference for Security and Cooperation in Europe had played a historic role in the rapprochement between the East and the West, Picula said today's OSCE (Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe) could be even more useful. As a broad coalition of equal partners, the OSCE is particularly adequate to respond to new challenges and threats, said Picula. He applauded the all-round approach of the anti-terrorist action plan, which he said clearly showed it was not enough to combat terrorist actions alone, but work towards eradicating the roots of terrorism world-wide. The Croatian official also pointed to the close connection of terrorism and international crime, trafficking in drugs, weapons, and people. The new threats the world is facing point to the importance of the concept of joint and all-encompassing security, he said. Security cannot be achieved without respecting human rights or building democratic institutions in each country, Picula asserted, stressing OSCE's efforts in strengthening democracy and the rule- of-law within its members were more important than ever before. The Croatian foreign minister added OSCE norms and values had special importance for countries in transition, and called on the Organisation to continue promoting and helping in the building of democratic systems in South Eastern Europe. He reminded this region had been a successful testing ground for many new OSCE actions and approaches, including police training and election organisation and monitoring. Picula also pointed to the efforts Croatia had invested in post-war reconciliation and reconstruction. Croatia is proud that in the past two years, all monitoring mechanisms in Croatia, including those of the United Nations and the Council of Europe, have been terminated, he said. Adding that cooperation with the OSCE Mission was also valuable, Picula voiced hope it would continue to be such in the future, reflecting the many positive changes made in Croatia. Croatia also expects the resumption of progress in the implementation of the Agreement on Subregional Arms Control, he said, urging all signatories to refrain from abusing possible omissions in the Agreement. Such conduct would deny the very essence of the Agreement, without raising the level of mutual trust among the signatories, the Croatian chief of diplomacy said. (hina) ha