West gives lukewarm response to Russian security pitch

ATHENS - Foreign ministers at Europe’s main security organisation, the OSCE, gave a lukewarm response to a new Russian-drafted Euro-Atlantic security pact Tuesday, calling instead for existing organisations to be improved.

Foreign ministers from 46 of the 56-nation Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe, which includes the US and Russia, gathered in Athens to look at developing a stronger security policy for Europe.

At a previous OSCE meeting in June, many expressed doubt about Russia’s plans for a pan-European security pact, saying it should not undermine the role of either NATO or the OSCE.

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev released details of the 14-point European security pact on Sunday, which aimed at finally breaking with the legacy of the Cold War and would restrict its ability to use military force unilaterally if the United States and Europe agreed to do the same.

“The time has again come for Europe to change, there is a need to take decisive steps to overcome remaining dividing lines in the Euro-Atlantic region,” Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov told fellow OSCE foreign ministers at the meeting.

But while the Russian foreign minister said existing structures such as the OSCE were outdated, other foreign ministers insisted that the existing organization merely should be reformed.

“We must look at ways to improve it, rather than replace it,” said Dutch Foreign Minister Maxime Verhagen.

Meanwhile, other countries, such as France, did not rule out the Russian proposal altogether, saying it could be seen as a positive means for all OSCE members to work together.

Diplomats said progress on the Russian proposal was uncertain, given the differences between members over how to re-organise Europe’s security policy.