Remarks of Albania at the OSCE Annual Security Review Conference Delivered by H.E. Ms. Eglantina Gjermeni

Ambassador, Permanent Representative      25-26 June 2025, Vienna

Thank you, Mister Chairperson,

Distinguished colleagues,

Albania thanks the Finnish Chairpersonship for convening this Annual Security Review Conference, our principal forum to reflect on the threats and opportunities shaping the security of over one billion people under the OSCE umbrella.

Once again, this conference convenes against the darkest backdrop in Europe’s recent history: Russia’s ongoing war of aggression against Ukraine. This war, now in its third year, remains a flagrant breach of the UN Charter, the Helsinki Final Act, whose 50th anniversary we mark this year, and the core principles that have underpinned peace on our continent since the Cold War.

As we gather here in Vienna, we are reminded that peace is not self-sustaining: it must be defended by law, safeguarded by institutions, and nourished by trust. As the Helsinki signatories pledged in 1975, respect for sovereignty, refraining from the threat or use of force, inviolability of frontiers, and the right of peoples to self-determination to freely choose their own destiny, alliances and future, must never be optional.

Albania condemns in the strongest possible terms Russia’s blatant aggression. We stand firmly with Ukraine and its people in their heroic resistance and fully support Ukraine’s right to decide its own future, free from coercion. We reaffirm our commitment to accountability not only before the court of public opinion but equally before the court of law. Justice must be served for every violation of international law and every crime committed.

Mister Chairperson

We see clearly how Russia’s defiance of fundamental norms has emboldened disruptive forces elsewhere, feeding instability and testing the resilience of our security order. This aggression has shaken confidence in the rules-based system far beyond Europe, reverberating through fragile regions and worsening crises from the Black Sea to the shores of the Mediterranean, with an immense toll on human lives and dignity.

Developments in the Middle East and Afghanistan have again underscored the need for deeper engagement with our Mediterranean and Asian Partners for Co-operation. Security in the OSCE area cannot be separated from security in our wider neighbourhood.

Recalling the 2020 Tirana Ministerial Council declaration on strengthening co-operation in countering transnational organized crime, we urge continuity and common action if we are to be effective. Organized crime networks and other transnational threats thrive where impunity prevails and respect for law erodes.

Mister Chairperson

At this critical juncture, our institutions, the Secretariat and field operations, continue to deliver real value on the ground. We commend their resilience but stress that resilience alone is not enough. They must be empowered.

To that end, breaking the persistent deadlock on adopting a unified budget is an urgent necessity. We owe it to our people to ensure that this Organization is adequately resourced and free from political blockage.

As we mark half a century since the signing of the Helsinki Final Act, a milestone born from the painful lessons of Europe’s past, let us remember what generations before us knew too well. Peace demands vigilance, co-operation and accountability.

Albania remains steadfast in its commitment to a strong OSCE that upholds the principles we agreed to together and delivers tangible security for all.

You can continue to count on Albania’s active contribution toward safeguarding our collective security, and strengthening this Organization’s capacity to fulfil its mission in this time of turbulence and change.

Thank you.