News from Copenhagen

Number 272 Current Information from the OSCE PA International Secretariat 2 October 2008 Mediterranean Forum focuses on integration and co-operation With the goal of developing stronger ties with the OSCE the beginning of the Helsinki process.” Parliamentary Assembly and the Mediterranean Partners for U.S. Congressman Alcee L. Hastings, who serves as Special Co-operation, the Assembly’s annual Mediterranean Forum was Representative on Mediterranean issues, underlined the value held at the Fall Meetings of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly of promoting the OSCE Mediterranean dimension at the in , , on 18 September. parliamentary level, stressing that European security is directly Chaired by Canadian Senator Jerry Grafstein, Vice-President linked to security and stability in the Mediterranean. of the Assembly, this year’s Forum focused on multilateral Gilles Mentré, Representative of the French Ministry of initiatives to promote integration and co-operation in the Foreign Affairs, introduced a French proposal intended to Mediterranean, including the Union for the Mediterranean and further develop the EU’s Euromediterranean Partnership. the OSCE Mediterranean Dimension. Entitled the Union for the Mediterranean, the initiative unites It was the best attended Forum since its establishment in all EU members with several non-EU countries that border the Rome in 2003. High level parliamentary representatives from , promoting co-operation on energy issues, Algeria, Israel, Jordan, and Morocco actively contributed to the security, immigration and trade, as well as fi ghting corruption, debate. terrorism, organized crime and human traffi cking. In his opening statements Senator Grafstein underlined the Ambassador Mara Marinaki, Permanent Representative of importance of economic co-operation and free trade in promoting Greece to the OSCE and Chair of the OSCE Contact Group stability and co-operation and highlighted the potential of the with the Mediterranean Partners, underlined the importance that OSCE model for the Mediterranean as an inclusive security Greece - OSCE Chair in 2009 - attaches to the strengthening of organization. OSCE Mediterranean dimension. Assembly President Joao Soares remarked that the annual She invited the Assembly to the next Conference to be held Forum “underlines the fact that Mediterranean issues are in Amman later this month on the topic: “The OSCE approach closely linked with OSCE issues, as has been recognized since to regional security - a model for the Mediterranean.” and debate the situation in the South Caucasus

Eka Tkeshelashvili Vitaly Churkin For the fi rst time since violence erupted in the South Caucasus not ethnic cleansing has occurred. He said that the whole lesson last August, Georgia and Russia debated the issue face to face of is that there can be no ethnic cleansing, and we must in a special session at the recent Fall Meetings in Toronto. see to it that this not take place in and . The debate was led by the two especially invited guests, “Recent weeks have been a very diffi cult time for many people Georgia’s Foreign Minister, Eka Tkeshelashvili, and Russia’s in the OSCE region,” said OSCE PA President Joao Soares in his Permanent Representative to the , Vitaly introductory remarks. “Most importantly, my sincere sympathy Churkin. In addition, OSCE PA President Emeritus and Special goes to those hurt and killed during the confl ict in Georgia. I am Envoy for Georgia, Goran Lennmarker, reported on his recent pleased that we could bring representatives from Georgia, Russia visit to the region. and the OSCE together here in Toronto to discuss this issue.” Over 40 parliamentarians of the 180 parliamentarians who Other speakers in the debate included Ambassador Aleksi attended the conference participated in the debate. Harkonen, head of the Finnish OSCE Chairmanship Task Mr. Lennmarker said that refugees will defi ne this confl ict Force, who informed the parliamentarians about the activities and suggested the creation of a “Catastrophe Commission” of the Finnish Chairman-in-Offi ce in the Georgia crisis, and to try to reach the truth about what has happened during the the Chairman of the Senate of the Parliament of Kazakhstan, hostilities, and particularly to answer the question whether or Kassym-Jomart Tokayev. For further information: Secretary General R. Spencer Oliver, Director of Communications Klas Bergman, or Research/Publications Offi cer Nat Parry, E-mail [email protected], Tel: +45 33 37 80 40, Fax: +45 33 37 80 30.