PRESS RELEASE: ˝We are reaching consensus. That’s the main point,˝ Agitania says.

Vienna, 7 July 2008 - On the second day Model OSCE negotiations continue at Vienna's Hofburg and delegations are on their way to reaching consensus.

“Things are going very well. We are reaching consensus. That’s the main point,” Casper Schulenburg from the Agitanian Delegation points out referring to the process on finding consensus in the debate on combating terrorist use of the internet.

“I am satisfied with the outcomes of the Committee negotiations, because now it´s ensured that freedom of the media can in no way be harmed. My Office is going to observe the developments in Agitania. We are a sort of an international watch dog,” Adrian Zwettler, Model OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media made clear Sunday evening.

The freedom of the media is at stake in the first committee, discussing the consequences of terrorist use of Internet and the freedom of expression in Agitania. Delegations are trying to tackle the abuse of Internet for terrorist purposes while at the same time protecting human rights, in particular the freedom of expression.

Concerning the water problem in Central Asia, Tristans representative Nadezhda Tsolakyan states with reference to the plan of a Central Asian Union that, “neighboring countries should cooperate” to deal better with the problems they are commonly concerned with.

“The European Union is very satisfied with the ongoing discussions, as there is a real dialogue between the two countries concerned. Both are willing to ensure sustainability in water management,” points out Ambassador Dieter Mayr, Permanent Representative of France to the Model OSCE. France is the country holding the EU Presidency in the second half of 2008. He also emphasised the efforts of the European Union. EU experts are to be sent to the Central Asian region to provide technical assistance for the infrastructure improvements planned in Tristan and Tramanstan.

“It has been a quite lively discussion, but things are going on,” declared Ambassador Anna Kornuyknina, Head of the Thule delegation to the Model OSCE, Sunday evening. The Thule diplomats are hoping to reach consensus while stressing the importance of informal negotiations during the coffee breaks.

Tajikistan’s Delegation member Maria Razmyslovich believes that the discussion on discrimination, education and human trafficking with a special emphasis on Roma and Sinti, faced several misunderstandings and several critical moments but the delegations managed to solve them. Pointing to a possible compromise she said, “I think it is going to be a significant progress.”

Special OSCE positions such as the Representative on Freedom of the Media or the High Commissioner on National Minorities ensure that the general OSCE principles are guaranteed.

Today, the Model OSCE conference was concluding with the Permanent Council. The Permanent Council is the main regular political decision-making body of the Organization and meets in Vienna to discuss developments in the OSCE area and to make appropriate decisions.

Contacts:
Model OSCE Spokesperson
Susanne Weber

Model OSCE Press Officer
Barbara Kurz