OSCE Parliamentary Assembly

I would like to welcome Mr. George. Your remarks are great evidence not only of a very talented speaker but also of the fact that the House of Commons is a great arena for honing oratorical skills.

In addition to that, I would like to also compliment you for the substance of your remarks. I look forward to reading them. I think there are many excellent suggestions there. Insofar as you set yourself the task of having good relations with OSCE, I think that task has already been accomplished, so that you have very little to do, if that is your only objective over the next two years.

Furthermore, while you have many things to say that are very worthy ideas for us to carry forward, I would like to comment on one, which is the gender issue, which we very strongly support. I think OSCE needs to—and we will—support efforts in that direction to have more gender equality in the senior positions at OSCE.

With that said, let me say that we welcome your ideas on how the Assembly can be more involved in OSCE activities, and—I would put it—how it can further increase its activities in support of OSCE, and how OSCE can, through its ambassadors, working with their national Parliamentarians, support shared Parliamentary Assembly/OSCE goals and objectives. I feel very strongly that this combination of legislative and executive resources is a formidable resource in dealing with the difficult tasks that face us. In that connection, I want to note that we look forward to working with the new PA Liaison Office.

We value the role of the Parliamentary Assembly in our Organization; it has particularly distinguished itself in many areas—including one you referred to of election observation, with you, yourself, having recently headed OSCE election observation efforts in Ukraine, Albania, and Kosovo.

We are examining the Berlin document and considering what elements could be followed-up on in the preparations for the Porto Ministerial. As you know, there are several resolutions sponsored by our own congressional members, including issues related to human rights and terrorism, trafficking in human beings, anti-Semitism, and Roma education.

We remain highly interested in decisions the Parliamentary Assembly takes regarding the participation of the Belarusian National Assembly in Parliamentary Assembly meetings. And we hope that there are steps taken over the next few months that will enable the seating of the Belarusian representatives in the Parliamentary Assembly, pursuant to the criteria that have been established and agreed to. In July, the Parliamentary Assembly Standing Committee suspended a decision; we hope that when that issue is revisited it will bring a good result.

The OSCE Parliamentary Assembly has opened, constructively and definitively, a window of opportunity to Belarus, which we very much hope will be realized.

In conclusion, we look forward to working with you, President George, and your many colleagues, to bringing the immense capabilities represented by the Parliamentarians, their experience and expertise, which I think can be very useful in guiding us through the difficult waters that are ahead, and to forming a seamless team here, where we complement each other's strengths and resources.