This meeting note is based on contributions made by participants at a workshop on confidence-building measures in the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) area. The workshop took place at IPI's Vienna office.
The workshop focused on how confidence-building measures (CBMs) have been used to reduce tensions and build trust between parties in several conflict situations throughout the world. It also briefly reflected on experience with CBMs in the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) area.
Participants outlined both top-down and bottom-up approaches to increase confidence and repair distorted relationships between parties. They underlined the importance of political will, and taking a “leap of faith” that should be reciprocated. It was stressed that CBMs are a process, and cannot be prejudiced by a pre-conceived result.
The meeting's participants included representatives of the OSCE’s participating states, executive structures, and Parliamentary Assembly, as well as international experts.