No place safe in face of cross-border threat — OSCE

DEAD SEA — The collective security of countries today is "intertwined", resulting in tensions that can easily spread across borders, and no region is safe, members of Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) and their partners agreed on Wednesday. 

They said at the conclusion of the two-day 2015 Mediterranean Conference on the shores of the Dead Sea that their efforts to forge partnerships that address pressing issues, including illegal migration, will continue. 

"No region has ever witnessed the chaos our region is witnessing today. Yes we have challenges and security concerns, but we also
have opportunities," said Jordan's representative to the OSCE Hussam Al Husseini.

Husseini noted that radicalisation, terrorism, the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, illegal migrants, among others are issues that need colllective efforts and action.

"They need more than debates, more sincere commitments. We cannot close our eyes and expect these threats to fade. We cannot hide behind walls and think we are safe," said Husseini, who also serves as the Kingdom's ambassador to Vienna. 

He stressed the need to act on words and demonstrate them as the situation in the region is "only getting worse". 

"We can simply expect what would happen next year if we do not rise to our responsibilities," the diplomat added.  

Lamberto Zannier, OSCE secretary general, agreed, saying that stronger efforts should be exerted to combat terrorism and support interfaith dialogue. 

Representatives of 63 nations took part in the conference, held under the theme “Common Security in the Mediterranean Region – Challenges and Opportunities”. They discussed ways to address violent extremism that leads to terrorism, irregular migration, refugee protection, migrant smuggling and human trafficking in the Mediterranean. 

“It is true that the OSCE is an organisation for dialogue and the sustainability of cooperation in issues related to security, but we seek to create internal understandings that lead to action,” Husseini told The Jordan Times.