Turkey vetoes ex-Austrian foreign minister’s OSCE candidacy

ANKARA – Hürriyet Daily News

Turkey vetoes ex-Austrian foreign minister’s OSCE candidacy

Ankara has vetoed the candidacy of a former Austrian foreign minister to be the secretary-general of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, or OSCE, citing concerns about his stance on Turkey.

“We have notified not only Austria but also Lithuania [the rotating president of the OSCE] that it is impossible for us to accept a person who discusses our European identity as the secretary-general of such an important international organization,” Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu said in a TV interview Saturday.

Lithuania had sent letters to representatives of 55 OSCE members in Vienna, saying former Austrian Foreign Minister Ursula Plassnik had been nominated as secretary-general. Turkey had nominated Ersin Erçin, the country’s ambassador to Brazil and the president’s adviser for European security, for the same position. Italy and Portugal also nominated candidates.

Turkey’s move was not a veto of Austria, Davutoğlu said, adding that Austria had nominated a candidate who does not support an inclusive European identity. Plassnik said in 2008 that Turkey, a predominantly Muslim country, should consider a relationship with the European Union short of full membership.

As Turkey has vetoed Plassnik, 56 member states will seek consensus on Turkey’s candidate, Italy’s Lamberto Zannier or Portugal’s Joao Soares.

Davutoğlu said Turkey’s candidate received significant support at first, but the Greek Cypriot administration and Armenia said they would veto his candidacy. “Then, Erçin was ranked second in the voting,” the minister said.

Lithuania has to nominate Plassnik or another candidate by Monday and ask for the consent of member countries. The OSCE makes all its decisions through consensus.

The OSCE is the world’s largest regional security organization, including 56 states from Europe. It offers a forum for political negotiations and decision-making in the fields of early warning, conflict prevention, crisis management and post-conflict rehabilitation, and puts the political will of its participating states into practice through its unique network of field missions.

via Turkey vetoes ex-Austrian foreign minister’s OSCE candidacy – Hurriyet Daily News and Economic Review.