🎙N.V.Mironov, Senior Counsellor to the Permanent Mission of Russia to the OSCE in Vienna, took part in the final meeting of the 31st OSCE Economic and Environmental Forum on the theme "Enhancing security and stability in the OSCE region through digital innovations, contributing to sustainable development and climate adaptation"
 

📑 The brief abstracts from the statement of the Russian delegation:

🔹The fascination of number of the Organization's member States with unilateral restrictive measures leads to increased fragmentation of the OSCE economic space, the rupture of established technological and trade ties, and negatively affects joint efforts to preserve the environment and adapt to climate change.

🔹Nevertheless the organizers of the Economic and Environmental Forum managed to generate a rich agenda, including a wide range of important issues for the participating States and the OSCE partners for cooperation.

🔹For Russia, the issues of increasing the efficiency of the digital transformation of the economy, reducing the negative impact on the environment, including through the use of modern, more environmentally friendly technologies, improving good governance and fighting corruption are of priority importance.

🔹We are consistently improving our economic policy and practice, primarily in the interests of  building up the industrial and technological base for Russia's development. We are actively developing the digital transformation of economic, social and public administration sectors.

🔹We have stepped up efforts to reduce the anthropogenic impact on the environment and climate. Support is provided for measures to reduce the carbon footprint from the use of fossil fuels, the introduction of carbon-free energy sources, the development of renewable and hydrogen energy.

🔹Measures are being taken to strengthen control and responsibility in order to counter corruption and malpractices in the budgetary sphere, as well as in the implementation of the country's strategic programs.
 
🔹We are ready to work in the second OSCE "basket" in order to increase cooperation with interested countries on issues on the agenda on the principles of equality and mutual consideration of national interests. 

🎙В заключительном заседании 31-го Экономико-экологического форума ОБСЕ по теме «Укрепляя безопасность и стабильность в регионе ОБСЕ через цифровые инновации, способствуя устойчивому развитию и адаптации к климатическим изменениям» принял участие старший советник Постоянного представительства России при ОБСЕ в Вене Н.В.Миронов

📑 Краткие тезисы из выступления российской делегации:

🔹Увлечение ряда государств-участников Организации односторонними ограничительными мерами ведет к усилению фрагментации экономического пространства ОБСЕ, разрыву устоявшихся технологических и торговых связей, негативно сказывается на совместных усилиях по сохранению окружающей среды и адаптации к климатическим изменениям.

🔹Тем не менее организаторам Экономико-экологического Форума удалось сформировать  насыщенную повестку дня, включающую широкий круг важных для государств-участников и партнеров по сотрудничеству вопросов.

🔹Для России приоритетное значение имеют проблематика повышения эффективности цифровой трансформации экономики, снижение негативного воздействия на окружающую среду, в том числе с использованием современных более экологичных технологий, совершенствование надлежащего управления и борьба с коррупцией.

🔹Последовательно совершенствуем свою экономическую политику и практику, прежде всего в интересах наращивания индустриальной и технологической базы развития России. Активно развиваем цифровую трансформацию отраслей экономики, социальной сферы и государственного управления.

🔹Активизировали работу по снижению антропогенного воздействия на окружающую среду и климат. Оказывается поддержка мерам по сокращению углеродного следа от использования ископаемых видов топлива, внедрению безуглеродных источников энергии, развитию возобновляемой и водородной энергетики.

🔹Принимаются меры по усилению контроля и ответственности в целях противодействия коррупции и злоупотреблениям в бюджетной сфере, а также при реализации стратегических программ страны.
 
🔹Готовы к работе во второй «корзине» ОБСЕ в целях наращивания сотрудничества с заинтересованными странами по включенным в повестку дня вопросам на принципах равноправия и взаимного учета национальных интересов.

🎙 Russia's Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova’s answer to a media question regarding the US intention to use the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights to interfere in the Georgian elections

❓ Question: How can you comment the recent media reports that the United States intends to use the OSCE ODIHR to interfere in the parliamentary elections in Georgia, scheduled for October 26 of this year?

💬 Maria Zakharova: This comes as no surprise. It is important to understand that ODIHR is currently being used by the 'collective West' to intervene in the internal affairs of sovereign states, primarily through the institute of international election monitoring. ODIHR’s methods have never been coordinated by the OSCE member states. They are claimed to be the “gold standard” for determining whether an election is “free and fair.” But this is not the case. In its reports, ODIHR usually fulfils a political order it has been handed down, and offers the conclusions and opinions it is expected to produce by its employers.

This is easy to trace in assessments contained in its reports on elections in Serbia (December 2023) and Azerbaijan (February and September of this year). Its conclusions fit the purpose where it is necessary to encourage protests or call into question the outcome of voting. On the contrary, an ODIHR report will be lenient, where there is a need to conceal electoral violations or tampering. ODIHR’s assessments regarding the election returns in these countries spatter with irritation over the “wrong” outcome of voting, unfulfilled expectations of the West, and failure of their attempts to stir tensions.

Publishing “interim reports” that assess pre-election situations – normally appearing two weeks before the voting day – is one of the methods of bringing pressure to bear on the authorities. The reports are drafted by a small group of hired hands who bear no responsibility for their actions. The result is an essay on a theme suggested by their employer, which is in no way related to the legitimacy of elections, rather than a reflection of the state of affairs in this or that country.

👉 Judging by all appearances, ODIHR is planning to fall back on this sort of assessment in order to stir up tensions in Georgia ahead of its elections. If the West is displeased with the election results, ODIHR’s conclusions may be used as a pretext for protests and attempts to challenge the election outcome, eventually leading to yet another “colour revolution.”

For our part, if asked by friendly countries, we occasionally send Russian experts to join ODIHR missions. We do this to monitor the voting and put obstacles in the way of Western outrages. Our aim is to get a reasonably truthful picture of developments, reduce as much as we can the West’s capacity for bringing pressure to bear on the local authorities (primarily election commissions), and prevent statistical data manipulations.

As long as ODIHR’s conclusions and statements remain biased and slanted, the best approach is to disregard them. A country can carry out its commitments to invite international monitors without applying to ODIHR. The record shows that elections can be a success without their participation, with voters’ confidence in their results – and this is what inviting monitors is all about – unlikely to suffer. The legitimacy of elections is determined solely and uniquely by the will of the voters, not ODIHR’s assessments.

☝️ The only way to enhance confidence in ODIHR’s election monitoring mechanism is to carry out an in-depth reform of the Office itself, based on the principles of respect for the sovereign equality of all states and impartiality, as well as consensual criteria approved by all sides.