Thank you, Mr Chair, dear Mario, for setting out Croatia's priorities for the Forum for Security Co-operation (FSC) this trimester. As you execute the mandate of this Forum at a critical time for European Security, you can count on our full support.
Today marks 783 days since Russia's unprovoked, full-scale and illegal invasion of Ukraine. Actively facilitated by Belarus. An invasion that continues to transgress OSCE principles and commitments. Principles including sovereignty, territorial integrity and the right to be party to alliances. Principles which Russia and Belarus co-wrote. Russia's invasion of Ukraine was not a failure of the OSCE's principles and instruments. It was a failure of Russian political will to implement its commitments faithfully.
Since 24 February 2022, the Ukrainian people have defended their homeland heroically. Each week, we have supported Ukraine. And each week, we have condemned President Putin's strategic mistake of invading a sovereign neighbour. The FSC's work - through its tools and the principles it upholds - remain vital for security in the OSCE area.
We welcome your proposed FSC agenda which keeps the FSC spotlight on Ukraine. We particularly welcome your joint FSC-PC Security Dialogue on Women, Peace and Security. We must continue to champion women's full, equal, meaningful, and safe participation in political and peace processes. We must do so whilst also tackling gender-based violence, including conflict-related sexual violence. The UK also supports your other Security Dialogues, including on Humanitarian Mine Action and Military Education.
Mr Chair, last trimester we condemned the Russian delegation for blocking consensus - again - on a FSC Security Dialogue on International Humanitarian Law. We called out the Russian delegation's continued misbehaviour - including its threats to future FSC Chairs. This behaviour has no basis in our rules. Once again, we urge the Russian delegation to stop blocking consensus on FSC dialogues - and to return to the diplomatic decorum that the rest of us practice.
I wish to conclude by welcoming Denmark to the FSC troika, and to thank Canada for their work as they leave the troika. And most importantly, I wish you, Mr Chair, dear Mario, and your able team here in Vienna and in Zagreb the best of luck this trimester. You can count on the full support of me and my delegation.
