SEC.GAL/105/26 16 September 2026
ENGLISH only
Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe
Forum for Security Co-operation Secretary General Feridun H. Sinirlioğlu’s Opening Remarks Vienna, 16 September 2026
Thank you Chair, dear Neil. And thank you Lord Wood for joining us today in Vienna.
Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,
The UK assumes the Chair of the Forum for Security Co-operation during a critical period for the security and stability of the entire OSCE region.
Since this Forum last met in July, the security situation has deteriorated further. The war in Ukraine is escalating, and clearly represents the most dangerous security threat in our region. We have seen intensified large-scale attacks, heavily impacting civilians, critical infrastructure, maritime and food security. We have also seen repeated incidents endangering the airspace and territory of participating States.
This war must be urgently brought to an end through a negotiated settlement. Diplomatic efforts to that end have intensified in recent weeks. I welcome the recent engagement by the United States to create a path towards a negotiated peace agreement that should be just and lasting. Every effort to reduce the risk of escalation and facilitate negotiations between the sides should be supported. And all participating States can play an important role.
In this dangerous moment, we must rise to the challenge. This is why your deliberations and engagement in this Forum are essential. Diplomacy is needed most when trust is at its lowest.
I invite all participating States to make full use of this Forum. The FSC’s practical tools for risk reduction and incident prevention remain particularly important.
1 Maintaining channels of communication, strengthening transparency and making full use of existing confidence and security building measures can help prevent escalation and contribute to greater predictability and stability.
Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,
the agenda the UK has set out for the next four months gives us a great opportunity to engage on the urgent security challenges we all face.
Security dialogues on Small Arms and Light Weapons, the Code of Conduct, and incident management are all critical issues. They are also areas where our Organization has shown time and again that it can make a difference.
So I wish you, Lord Wood, and your team here every success over the next four months. You can count on our support in piloting this Forum through this critical and dangerous period.
I thank you.
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