Notes for the Opening Session at 2019 OSCE Asian Conference by Deputy Foreign Minister of Ukraine Sergyi Kyslytsya

(2 September 2019, Tokyo)

Dear State Minister Toshiko Abe,

Dear Chairman-in-Office Miroslav Lajcak,

Excellencies,

Ladies and gentlemen!

As we are meeting today in the beautiful land of rising sun, where ancient tradition meets modern technology, my delegation sincerely congratulates the Government of Japan, the hospitable hosts of the 2019 OSCE Asian Conference, as well as Italy as 2019 Chair of the OSCE Asian Contact Group for organizing such a timely and important conference on security in the digital era. We welcome the presence today of OSCE Chairmanship-in-Office Minister Myroslav Lajcak, which testifies to the importance the Slovak OSCE Chairmanship attaches to promoting partnerships to achieve cyber security. 

My presence here testifies to the importance President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and the new Government of Ukraine attach to the digital technologies and hence cyber security. Therefore, I am particularly grateful for giving me this opportunity to address the opening session of this conference.

It is not by coincidence that the conference on security in the digital era is taking place in Japan, one of the most advanced countries in the world in terms of technology. Japan generously shares its unique expertise and proactively promotes cooperation in cyber security field with OSCE participating States and partners. Ukraine greatly values fruitful bilateral dialogue with Japan on cyber and other aspects of security and looks forward to intensifying cooperation with the trusted partner.           

We are very grateful for a very comprehensive presentation by Her Excellency Minister Toshiko Abe of Japan’s views and position on many important aspects of international security, including the importance of the rule of Law of the Sea in achieving comprehensive security in the region and globally. Ukraine fully supports the three principles that Minister Abe has just presented.

We are confident that our Asian partners – Australia, Afghanistan, Japan, Republic of Korea and Thailand can make a meaningful contribution to our common efforts in cyber security, given the considerable intellectual, scientific and technical potential of the countries in the region in this high-tech field.

 Strengthening cooperation to protect critical infrastructure from malicious ICT activities and seeking effective ways to countering threats in cyber area is сrucial for national, regional and global security. These issues are given priority attention by most governments and private sector simply because they affect everyday life of our citizens, can undermine sovereignty and territorial integrity of our states, threaten our security. What was invented as a common good, can become a common evil when it is used for malicious purposes.

Ukraine attaches great importance to promoting cooperation with key international organizations and states in tackling cyber security challenges. We are currently developing fruitful cooperation with the world’s leading nations in cyber security - the United States, Japan and other partners in fostering our national system of cyber security, due to the continuing external threats. Ukraine is rapidly improving its regulatory framework for cyber security in accordance with international standards, including the EU and NATO standards.

In conclusion, I would like to express Ukraine's readiness to support OSCE efforts to further advance cyber security, firmely grounded on our OSCE commitments, and to intensify cooperation in this field with our Asian partners.

I thank you.