Event on Arms Control Dialogue in the OSCE Area

On 13 April 2018, the VCDNP, with the support of the Austrian Federal Ministry for Europe, Integration and Foreign Affairs, hosted a one-day workshop on "Arms Control Dialogue in the OSCE Area: Lessons from the Past, Prospects for the Future?" The workshop, which took place under the Chatham House rule, started from the premise that disarmament and arms control, and, more generally, cooperation are possible even in times of severe political tensions. The event, which brought together representatives of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) participating States, non-governmental experts, former practitioners, and academics, aimed to address the most urgent questions in the realm of arms control, confidence- and security-building measures, and risk reduction. While first looking at past arms control achievements, participants then engaged on the most pressing nuclear and conventional challenges for Euro-Atlantic security. The workshop ended with a moderated discussion on the OSCE Structured Dialogue - currently the only multilateral forum dealing with urgent questions of military security from Vancouver to Vladivostok. In the coming weeks, VCDNP staff will prepare a report, building on the results of the workshop and providing concrete recommendations to OSCE participating States.