Speech by Ivica Dačić, First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Serbia, OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, at the 2015 Global Conference on Cyberspace:

“Excellencies,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Dear colleagues,

It is an honour for me to address in my capacity as OSCE Chairperson-in-Office the 2015 Global Conference on Cyberspace.

Allow me first to thank the Prime Minister of the Netherlands, Mark Rutte, and the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bert Koenders, for organizing this remarkable event, which brings together so many key players concerned with shaping a free and secure cyberspace.

I have no doubt that the conference will significantly contribute to the global dialogue on responsible behaviour in the cyberspace, which commenced in London in 2011, and continued in Budapest in 2012 and Seoul in 2013.

Ladies and gentlemen,

The topic of cybersecurity has indeed become critical. Information and communication technology infrastructure has become the very fibre that connects us in the modern world. On the other hand, if our communication networks are compromised, misused or attacked, so is life as we know it. Cyber-attacks are a quintessential twenty-first century threat, a potentially destabilizing factor to international peace and security.

In 2011, OSCE participating States decided to apply the vast expertise of the Organization in the area of CBMs to the cyber domain and established an Informal Working Group, which by 2013 identified eleven CBMs to reduce the risks of conflict stemming from the use of ICTs. These measures were adopted unanimously at the 2013 Kyiv Ministerial Council. CBMs are practical measures designed to reduce mistrust, misunderstanding and miscalculations. They offer a certain degree of predictability and transparency between States and represent an opportunity to show to other partners the importance of stability in the cyberspace.

Excellencies,
Ladies and gentlemen,

As the 2015 OSCE Chairmanship-in-Office, Serbia has set cybersecurity as one of its priorities and intends to support both the implementation of the adopted CBMs and the development of another set of measures.

I believe we made great strides in 2014: over two-thirds of OSCE participating States contributed to CBMs implementation. In 2015, the focus will be on making further progress. As to the new set of CBMs, I am very pleased that work has already begun in earnest. The work will focus on a limited and realistic set of co-operative measures that are currently being considered in the Informal Working Group. The adoption of new CBMs will of course depend on the political will of all OSCE participating States. For its part, Serbia will do everything it can to facilitate this work.

Excellencies,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

With the adoption of the Permanent Council Decision no. 1106 on an Initial Set of OSCE Confidence Building Measures to Reduce the Risks of Conflict Stemming from the Use of Information and Telecommunication Technologies, OSCE participating States managed to fill an important niche in the international responses to cybersecurity. Notably, to date, the OSCE remains the only organization where such an agreement has been reached.

In addition to the CBMs, the OSCE offers participating States a unique platform to address various cyber threats, while safeguarding fundamental freedoms and human rights. The OSCE is well positioned to achieve a comprehensive concept of cybersecurity through different efforts featuring cyber components.

I am convinced that our efforts here in The Hague will contribute significantly to a future global framework, based on international law and defined by co-operation, due diligence and mutual assistance. The Serbian OSCE Chairmanship will contribute to effective responses in dealing with cyber security threats also by convening an expert workshop in Belgrade this autumn.

I wish you fruitful discussions.

Thank you.”