Comment by the Information and Press Department on the OSCE Permanent Council’s Decision on Confidence-Building Measures to Reduce the Risks of Conflict Stemming from the Use of Information and Communication Technologies

On March 10, the OSCE Permanent Council approved additions to the Initial Set of OSCE Confidence-Building Measures to Reduce the Risks of Conflict Stemming from the Use of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) adopted by OSCE Permanent Council Decision No. 1106 in December 2013. Work on these additions went on in 2014−2016 within the framework of the informal working group on confidence-building measures (CBMs), established in 2012 to promote cooperation between the OSCE member states in the use of ICTs, to enhance interstate transparency, predictability and stability and to reduce the risks of conflict stemming from the use of ICTs. The document will be presented for approval by the OSCE Ministerial Council Meeting in December 2016.

The final wording of the document combines five new CBMs and Decision No. 1106 into a consolidated text.

Prepared with Russia’s active contribution, the document takes into account the main elements of Russia’s approach to CBMs in cyberspace, notably the provisions on the voluntary nature of these measures, the key role of states in practical cooperative efforts to protect critical ICT infrastructures, as well as the need to exchange information related to sensitive security issues through authorised and protected communication channels.

The adoption of additional CBMs by the OSCE in the sphere of ICTs was the result of constructive cooperation between all parties participating in the negotiations within the informal working group. We also express our appreciation for the contribution by the German OSCE Chairmanship, which greatly helped the parties to reach a compromise position in this document.

The coordination of these CBMs at the OSCE is fresh evidence that broad Euro-Atlantic consensus is possible on fundamental issues in the field of international information security regardless of political considerations. We consider it to be of the utmost importance to continue enhancing international cooperation in this field.

March 15, 2016