On behalf of the UK, I warmly welcome you, Minister Hasler, to the Permanent Council. Thank you for outlining your priorities at the Council of Europe and for collaboration with the OSCE. The Council of Europe has been, and will continue to be, important to the UK's human rights and foreign policy agenda.
The longstanding relationship between the OSCE and the Council of Europe is rooted firmly in the promotion of human rights, rule of law, and democracy. Respect for these common principles defines our shared endeavours in Vienna and in Strasbourg. We meet today at a particularly challenging time for European Security and while President Putin's unprovoked and unjustified war in Ukraine is about to enter a third year. We call on all OSCE participating States to uphold our common commitments to shared security on our continent and condemn, once again, Russia's illegal invasion of Ukraine.
The UK is proud to be Chair of the Conference of Participants for the Register of Damage for Ukraine. The Register will serve as a record for damage, loss or injury caused by Russia's aggression - a significant step towards securing justice for the Ukrainian People. We call on any OSCE participating States who have not yet done so, to join this vital work
The Council of Europe and the OSCE share much common ground - joint work on serious organised crime, elections, counter-terrorism, human trafficking, Artificial Intelligence, migration and gender. As both the OSCE and the Council of Europe face up to a series of common challenges this year, it is important that we continue to recognise each organisation's individual merits and distinctiveness. We need to work in a coordinated way to employ the unique set of instruments and tools which each organisation offers to its participating and member States.
Minister Hasler, the UK is - and will remain - a steadfast supporter of the work of both the Council of Europe and the OSCE. We offer you, and your team, our best wishes for your work in the year ahead.
