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Foreign Ministers Meet on Europe's 'Crisis of Confidence'

by Associated Press

   MAUERBACH, AUSTRIA --

   Austria's foreign minister convened dozens of counterparts on Tuesday
   to overcome what he calls a "crisis of confidence" hobbling the work of
   the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe.
   A forum born of Cold War attempts to ease disputes through compromise,
   the OSCE must reach decisions by consensus. However, regional and
   international rivalries are preventing agreement on issues ranging from
   the Ukraine crisis to filling key positions in the organization.
   Austrian Foreign Minister Sebastian Kurz is acting chair of the
   57-nation organization tasked with reducing tensions in Europe. The
   major player at the meeting, however, is not Kurz but Russian Foreign
   Minister Sergey Lavrov. His country has so far refused to sign off on a
   candidate for the position of OSCE secretary general and other senior
   positions supported by a majority of other nations. Approval by Russia
   would go a long way toward laying the ground for consensus after months
   of deadlock.
   Kurz emphasized Moscow's oversized role in Europe ahead of the meeting,
   saying: "We have to realize that peace on our continent will only be
   with and not against Russia." He said the presence of Lavrov will
   "enable the talks and contacts which are necessary to make progress" in
   reaching agreement on filling top OSCE vacancies.
   But Lavrov was noncommittal as to the chances of overcoming the
   disagreement on personnel, saying only "the chance is always there."
   In his opening speech, Kurz focused on the need for common strategies
   on fighting terrorism and extremism. Because all countries are
   threatened, he said, all OSCE nations -- European and some central
   Asian nations, as well as the U.S. and Canada -- must "pull in the same
   direction."
   The organization has had no secretary-general since the mandate of
   Lamberto Zannier of Italy ended June 30. Other senior vacancies are for
   the head of the human rights and minorities office and the
   representative on freedom of the media.
   All four positions are being negotiated as a package, making agreement
   even more difficult.