REPORT Seventeenth Annual Session Astana, Kazakhstan Transparency in the OSCE 17th Annual Session ✦ Report

RREPORTEPORT OONN THETHE 117TH7TH AANNUALNNUAL SESSIONSESSION OFOF THETHE OOSCESCE PARLIAMENTARYPARLIAMENTARY AASSEMBLYSSEMBLY

CCONTENTSONTENTS

SSUMMARYUMMARY ...... 1 AASTANASTANA DECLARATIONDECLARATION ...... 2 IINAUGURALNAUGURAL PLENARYPLENARY SESSIONSESSION ...... 3 SSTANDINGTANDING COMMITTEECOMMITTEE ...... 8 CCOMMITTEEOMMITTEE MMEETINGSEETINGS FFirstirst GGeneraleneral CCommitteeommittee oonn PPoliticalolitical AAffairsffairs ...... 1122 SSecondecond GeneralGeneral CCommitteeommittee oonn EEconomicconomic AAffairs,ffairs, SScience,cience, TTechnologyechnology aandnd thethe EnvironmentEnvironment ...... 1144 TThirdhird GeneralGeneral CCommitteeommittee oonn DDemocracy,emocracy, HHumanuman RRightsights aandnd HHumani-umani- ttarianarian QQuestionsuestions ...... 1166 CCLOSINGLOSING PLENARYPLENARY SESSIONSESSION ...... 1188 EElectionlection ooff AAssemblyssembly OOfffi ccersers ...... 1199 SSIDEIDE MEETINGSMEETINGS ...... 2211 BBelaruselarus & GGuantanamouantanamo ...... 2211 GGenderender LLunchunch ...... 2222 CCentralentral AAsiasia & NGONGO MMeetingseetings ...... 2233 BBUREAUUREAU MEMBERSMEMBERS ...... 2244 OOfffi cerscers ooff tthehe AAsssemblysssembly ...... 2244 GGeneraleneral CCommitteeommittee OOfffi ccersers ...... 2277 PPARLIAMENTARYARLIAMENTARY ASSEMBLYASSEMBLY OVERVIEWOVERVIEW ...... 3300 AANNUALNNUAL SESSIONSSESSIONS ANDAND DECLARATIONSDECLARATIONS ...... 3322 PPROGRAMMEROGRAMME OOFF TTHEHE 22008008 AANNUALNNUAL SESSIONSESSION ...... 3388

2 17th Annual Session ✦ Report

Summary

he OSCE Parliamentary Assembly held its and Aslan Mussin, as well as high-ranking T17th Annual Session in Astana, the capi- OSCE offi cials. tal city of Kazakhstan, from 29 June to 3 July The Assembly’s three General Committees 2008. It was the fi rst time that the Assembly met met over several days to discuss current issues for its yearly inter-parliamentary conference in within their respective areas of responsibilities Central Asia. and to consider and amend draft resolutions, Hosted by the Kazakh Parliament, and under dealing with issues such as cyber security, the the theme of Transparency in the OSCE, the need to regulate the activities of private military Session brought together 227 parliamentarians contractors, the security environment in Geor- from 49 countries. gia, and the importance of the OSCE’s engage- After fi ve days of deliberation, the parlia- ment in Afghanistan. Other issues included the mentarians adopted the Astana Declaration and linkage between environmental security and cli- additional Resolutions. The Declaration rep- mate change, trade, water management, migra- resents the collective voice of the OSCE par- tion, combating sexual exploitation of children, liamentarians and calls on the OSCE to carry and the importance of granting greater access on further reform to reduce democratic defi cit to the historical archives of OSCE participating and strengthen transparency and accountability States. The Astana Declaration includes recom- throughout the OSCE. mendations on these and other issues. The parliamentarians unanimously elected a The Assembly’s Standing Committee of new President of the Assembly, Joao Soares, a Heads of Delegations met on the opening day member of the Portuguese Parliament. New Vice- to consider and approve next year’s budget and Presidents and other Offi cers were also elected. to hear and discuss reports on recent work by The Assembly met in two separate plenary the Assembly, particularly with regard to elec- sessions, which were addressed by many senior tion observation. The Standing Committee offi cials, including the Kazakh President Nur- also planned upcoming work by the Assembly, sultan Nazarbayev, the Speakers of the Kazakh including conferences and meetings in Canada, Senate and Mazhilis, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev Ireland, Lithuania and Greece.

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Astana Declaration

t the close of each Annual Session, the AAssembly adopts a Declaration consisting of the Resolutions of the three General Committees as well as supplementary items that have been considered. The Declaration, with recommendations in the fi elds of political affairs, security, and economic, environmental and human rights issues, represents the collective voice of the OSCE parliamentarians.

he OSCE Parliamentary Assembly Tconcluded the 17th Annual Session on 3 July by adopting the Astana Declaration, as well as additional resolutions. The culmination of fi ve days of deliberation by 227 Members of Parliament, the Declaration calls on participating States to increase transparency both in the OSCE and in the national governments of OSCE participating States. The OSCE PA adopted a Resolution calling on the governments of the 56 participating States to “fully commit themselves, at the highest political levels, to the full implementation of all of their OSCE commitments and to future strengthening of the Organization.” To do so, governments should make use of the Assembly as “a key element in the Organization’s efforts to be credible in promoting democracy.” The Resolution “requests the Permanent Council to regularly discuss and take into consideration the initiatives taken by the Parliamentary Assembly.” It also cites the need for the OSCE to “carry on further reform aiming at reducing the democratic defi cit (and) strengthening transparency and accountability.” The Declaration calls for more transparency in the organization of, and access to, political and historical archives. It also urges participating States to increase transparency in the use of private military contractors and to ensure that these contractors operate under international law. The OSCE PA implored all States to sign and ratify the Kyoto Protocol and take concrete steps to address the threat of global climate change. The Declaration, however, recognizes that the environmental threat is not confi ned to global warming, and hence calls on participating States to undertake better waste management, draw up plans for co-ordination in the event of nuclear accident, and set up early warning networks for natural disasters. The Declaration and additional resolutions are available at www.oscepa.org.

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Inaugural Plenary Session

SCE PA President Goran Lennmarker participants to the 17th Annual Session in both Oopened the 17th Annual Session by thank- Kazakh and Russian. Noting the signifi cance of ing the Kazakh government for hosting the the event being held for the fi rst time in Central event and underlining the importance of hold- Asia, he reminded the participants of the impor- ing it in Kazakhstan, which in 2010 will assume tant role that the Parliamentary Assembly plays the Chairmanship of the OSCE. He introduced within the OSCE. As elected representatives, the theme of the Session, Transparency in the OSCE parliamentarians provide a direct link OSCE, pointing to challenges posed to both the between the OSCE and the people of its par- Organization and its participating States. ticipating States, and ensure that OSCE com- President Lennmarker also stressed the need mitments and recommendations are relayed to for the OSCE and its participating States to bear participating States’ elected parliaments. in mind their interdependence with the rest of He went on to highlight the security chal- the world, calling in particular for strength- lenges of a multipolar world and pointed to the ened links with Central Asia. Mr. Lennmarker imbalance of some military treaties as an issue shared his view that there is a “golden oppor- that should be tackled by the OSCE. Regard- tunity” to resolve so-called “frozen confl icts,” ing Kazakhstan, President Nazarbayev gave while stressing their political, economic and an overview of the progress that the country human costs. To enhance the Mediterranean has made since its independence 17 years ago, Partnership for Co-operation, he suggested the focusing primarily on its external relations. In inclusion of Palestine and the preparation of a Kazakhstan’s efforts to be a responsible inter- side meeting with Mediterranean Partners at national player, Mr. Nazarbayev explained, the the Toronto Fall Meetings. Finally, the Presi- government has moved to halt nuclear tests and dent welcomed the plenary speakers: Kazakh rid itself of its Soviet nuclear legacy. Further, he President Nazarbayev, Chairman of the Kazakh elaborated on the positive role that Kazakhstan Senate Tokayev, Chairman of the Kazakh Maz- can play in regional and global security struc- hilis Mussin, and wished all participants a fruit- tures. ful meeting and constructive debates. Mr. Nazarbayev pointed to the signifi cant role that Kazakhstan plays economically, being Welcoming Address by the President of the a major exporter of wheat and grain. While Ka- Republic of Kazakhstan, zakhstan has resources, he stressed, Western Nursultan Nazarbayev European countries have the necessary tech- nologies for the development of agriculture and H.E. Nursultan Nazarbayev, President of the industry, which makes the two regions impor- Republic of Kazakhstan, warmly welcomed tant to each other. Thus, there is both a need

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Inaugural Plenary Session

and a possibility for further dialogue, exchange of mutual concern. Mr. Nazarbayev stressed that and co-operation. With substantial indicators of the OSCE has a great potential to continue these economic progress in his country over the past sorts of initiatives. 15 years, Kazakhstan has become increasingly Finally, the President touched on the neces- attractive to foreign investors, Mr. Nazarbayev sity to transform the activities of the OSCE in noted. The investment is not just coming into a way that would better refl ect the perspectives Kazakhstan, however, but also going from of all its participating States, particularly in the Kazakhstan to its Central Asian neighbours. areas of security, racism and xenophobia. His country is becoming a major investor in the region, the President explained, with Kaza- Address by the Speaker of the Kazakh khstan’s external investments estimated at 4.5 Senate, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev billion U.S. dollars. In international relations Kazakhstan is On behalf of the Kazakh Senate, Kassym- implementing a multifocal foreign policy that Jomart Tokayev welcomed the national delega- stems from its unique geopolitical position in tions and expressed his gratitude to the OSCE the centre of Eurasia. With Russia, China and PA and its President for choosing Astana as the the Arab world all within its proximity, Kaza- venue of the fi rst Annual Session to be held in khstan has much to offer as a mediator between Central Asia. these civilizations, and more broadly between Speaker Tokayev emphasized his country’s East and West. Mr. Nazarbayev reiterated Kaza- commitment to OSCE values while stressing khstan’s commitment to democracy and stressed the importance of parliamentary democracy the active role his country plays in regional eco- and inter-parliamentary dialogue in develop- nomic and security organizations such as the ing processes of integration and harmonization. Shanghai Cooperation Organization, the Eura- He recalled the participation of members of the sian Economic Community, and the Economic Kazakh Parliament in several OSCE PA elec- Union of Central Asian States. tion monitoring missions in Serbia, Georgia and Kazakhstan has also made forward strides in the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia. the human dimension, Mr. Nazarbayev reported. Referring to Kazakhstan’s efforts relevant to With more than 130 nationalities and 46 reli- the OSCE’s three dimensions, Speaker Tokayev gious confessions calling Kazakhstan home, the mentioned his country’s active involvement country has made efforts to foster inter-ethnic in regional confi dence-building and security peace, including the development of institutions organizations, such as the Conference on Inter- and initiatives such as the Assembly of Peoples action and Confi dence-Building in Asia, which of Kazakhstan and the Eurasian Forum on Inter- is holding the fi rst Congress of World and Tra- Confessional Dialogue. Held in Astana in 2003, ditional Religions in Astana. He also welcomed this initiative provided representatives of vari- the decision to appoint Kazakhstan to the Chair- ous confessions an opportunity to discuss issues manship of the OSCE as “indisputable recogni-

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Inaugural Plenary Session

tion” of the country’s progress in strengthening of the OSCE as a forum for political engage- and developing democratic institutions, and ment and as a framework for responding to cur- expressed gratitude to the OSCE PA for its rent challenges, and stressed the responsibility “constant support” of these efforts. of the OSCE PA participants in reminding their respective Governments of their commitments. Address by the Speaker of the Mazhilis, Mr. de Brichambaut mentioned a series of Aslan Mussin positive developments, starting with the encour- aging results of the Quintet co-operation format In welcoming participants of the Annual Ses- which fosters “greater coherence of purpose sion, Aslan Mussin, Speaker of the Majlis, men- and action.” At a formal meeting in Helsinki, tioned the historic signifi cance of the event for the Quintet Ministers agreed on the principle the new capital of Kazakhstan. Coinciding with of multi-year planning for a range of priority the celebration of Astana’s tenth anniversary, areas, such as OSCE engagement with Afghani- the event underscores Kazakhstan’s commit- stan, efforts to cope with small arms and light ment to openness and its eagerness to engage in weapons, gender, combating traffi cking in international dialogue, Mr. Mussin said. He also human beings and strengthening dialogue with emphasized that parliamentary co-operation is the Partners for Co-operation. vital for the construction of civil society and mentioned the progress Kazakhstan has made in Address by Tone Tingsgaard on regards to freedom of expression, transparency Gender Issues in public administration and policy, and the fi ght against corruption. As for external parliamen- The Assembly’s Special Representative on tary co-operation, Mr. Mussin pointed to the Gender Issues, Vice-President Tone Tings- chambers of the Majlis devoted to co-operation gaard, presented the 2008 Gender Report to the with the OSCE and NATO. He also highlighted Assembly. Ms. Tingsgaard focused on violence the role of the Kazakh parliament in promoting against women, particularly domestic violence. development and prosperity in the country. Her presentation, which complemented a reso- lution on this topic that she sponsored, aimed Address by OSCE Secretary General to raise awareness on this widespread problem Marc Perrin de Brichambaut that affects all societies. Ms. Tingsgaard also gave updates on the The OSCE Secretary General, Ambassador implementation of UN Security Council Reso- Marc Perrin de Brichambaut, expressed his lution 1352 on Women, Peace and Security as pleasure in addressing the OSCE PA’s 17th well as on the situation of gender equality within Annual Session in Astana, which also marked the OSCE in general and the Parliamentary the start of his second term as Secretary General Assembly in particular. Considering the most of the Organization. He recalled the central role recent facts and fi gures, she worried that the

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Inaugural Plenary Session

issue of women’s representation is fading from the agenda of the OSCE governmental side. She also noted that even if gender balance overall in the distribution of posts within OSCE Institu- tions appears to have improved slightly, women still remain under-represented at the manage- ment level. Most notably, no Heads of OSCE Institutions are women and of 19 fi eld missions, only two are headed by women. Women hold only 19 percent of the management positions within the Institutions and 22 percent within the Field Operations. She also noted that in the OSCE PA only 23 out of 44 delegations included women mem- bers. In this regard, Vice-President Tingsgaard Relations and informed the Assembly that a announced that she had begun work to amend launching conference followed by regional con- the Assembly’s Rules of Procedure in order to sultations will be held in order to discuss their make full voting rights in the Assembly depend- implementation by participating States. ent upon both genders being represented on The High Commissioner then gave an over- each delegation. view of the visits he paid to several participating States in South-Eastern Europe, Central Asia, Address by OSCE High Commissioner on the Caucasus, the Baltic region, and Central and National Minorities, Knut Vollebaek Eastern Europe. In the fi eld, Mr. Vollebaek met with high-ranking offi cials and civil society rep- The High Commissioner opened his address resentatives to assess inter-ethnic relations and by stressing the continued importance of minor- to discuss both achievements and shortcom- ity issues in an era of globalization. He valued ings. He stressed the need for translating public the role of minority communities in enhanced commitments and legislative frameworks into dialogue and mutual understanding between actual deeds in order to enhance dialogue and States. He also recalled the responsibility of build trust in multi-ethnic societies. The High governments to protect the rights of national Commissioner also placed emphasis on educa- minorities living under their jurisdiction and to tion as a means to promote further integration respect the principles of territorial integrity and of national minorities. Moreover, he addressed sovereignty when supporting national minorities issues specifi c to various participating States living under the jurisdiction of other States. and expressed his willingness to assist lawmak- Mr. Vollebaek presented his Recommen- ers in drafting appropriate policies for the pro- dations on National Minorities in Inter-State tection and promotion of minority rights.

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Standing Committee

he Standing Committee consists of Tthe 56 Heads of National Delegations and Members of the Bureau. Meeting three times a year -- at the Winter Meeting, the Fall Meetings and the Annual Session -- the Standing Committee guides the work of the Assembly, approves its budget, and appoints the Secretary General.

n 29 June, President Goran Lennmarker place since the last meeting of the Standing Oopened the meeting of the Standing Com- Committee in February. Mr. Roberto Battelli mittee and proposed the agenda, which was (Slovenia) reported on the IEOM in Serbia, Mr. adopted without objection. Joao Soares (Portugal) on the IEOM in Geor- He informed the Committee of the Presi- gia, and Ms. Pia Christmas-Moeller (Denmark) dential visits he made during his mandate: to on the IEOM in the former Yugoslav Republic Canada, Iceland, Cyprus, Morocco, Tunisia, of Macedonia. and Afghanistan. In explaining the signifi cance Regarding election observation, the President of his trip to Afghanistan, Mr. Lennmarker emphasized the importance of extending the pool underlined the importance of the Mediterra- of MPs participating in election monitoring and nean dialogue and the crucial role of Afghani- to enhance gender balance in the election obser- stan for stability in both Central Asia and the vation exercises. He noted that the representation OSCE region as a whole. He also reported on of women has increased to one-third in recent the recent St. Petersburg meeting with the CIS election observation missions, which is still rather Inter-Parliamentary Assembly, at which elec- low, but clearly a step in the right direction. tion monitoring was discussed, and informed of President Emeritus Alcee Hastings (USA) and OSCE PA Secretary General Spencer Oliver his participation in the Strasbourg meeting of both briefed the Committee on the recent St. parliamentary Speakers. He also welcomed the Petersburg meeting with the CIS Inter-Parlia- Finnish CiO initiative of the Quintet, bringing mentary Assembly, the purpose of which was to together the expired Spanish CiO, the current clear the way for co-operation in election obser- Finnish CiO and the future Greek, Kazakh and vation and to possibly give some recommen- Lithuanian Chairmanships of the OSCE. dation to the respective assemblies. However, He then thanked the Senate of Kazakhstan for Mr. Oliver reported, no agreement was reached. hosting the Annual Session and gave the fl oor He added that the CiO had been continuously to the Mr. Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, Chairman informed of the process. of the Senate of Kazakhstan, who remarked on The meeting was concluded with an address the historical signifi cance of holding the Annual by Mr. Consiglio Di Nino (Canada), who briefed Session in Central Asia for the fi rst time. Fol- the audience about the venue of the upcoming lowing Mr. Tokayev, Mr. Hans Raidel (Ger- Fall Meetings in Toronto. many), Treasurer of the OSCE PA, offered his Anne-Marie Lizin (Belgium) proposed to hold report on the fi nancial state of the Parliamentary a meeting in Egypt at the Alexandria Library as Assembly. He informed the Committee that the a way to enhance the Mediterranean dialogue PA continues to remain within budget and is in dimension. good fi nancial health. The Irish Delegation presented an invitation Moving on to the OSCE PA’s election obser- for a meeting on economic affairs to be held vation activities, Mr. Lennmarker gave the in Dublin in 2009, and the Greek Delegation fl oor to the Special Co-ordinators of the three extended Greece’s invitation to hold the Fall election observation missions that have taken Meetings in Athens in October 2009.

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10 17th Annual Session ✦ Report

11 17th Annual Session ✦ Report

General Committee on Political Affairs and Security

nder the Chairmanship of Jean-Charles the existing obligations of States under interna- UGardetto (Monaco), the General Commit- tional law in this matter. To address this topic tee on Political Affairs and Security discussed in the OSCE, he suggested that the PA vote on a wide range of topics included in the Rappor- a resolution that would offer guidance for par- teur’s draft resolution, which focused on Par- ticipating States to perform parliamentary over- liamentary Oversight of the Security Sector. In sight over PMCs and PSCs. addition, the First General Committee debated After having debated and voted on the amend- supplementary items dealing with cluster muni- ments, the Committee adopted the Resolution. tions, cyber security, and the security environ- The fi nal version calls on participating States ments in Georgia and Afghanistan. to clarify their existing obligations under inter- national law and encourages the development Report and Resolution of binding rules and procedures on the use of PMCs and PSCs in armed confl icts and post- In his report and draft resolution, the Commit- confl ict missions. It also requests the OSCE tee Rapporteur, Wolfgang Grossruck (Austria), Secretary General to initiate a study for the next highlighted the need to regulate the activities of Winter Meeting of the PA reviewing current use Private Military Companies (PMCs) and Private of PMCs and PSCs and best practices in the Security Companies (PSCs), which are increas- democratic supervision of their activities. ingly used to reinforce the regular military forces of participating States in the implementa- Supplementary Items tion of defense, development and security agen- das. He referred to the OSCE Code of Conduct Four supplementary items were debated and on Politico-Military Aspects of Security (CoC) voted on in the First General Committee. adopted at the Budapest Summit of 1994, which The supplementary item on the Ban of Cluster progressively set a framework for information- Munitions in Participating States of the OSCE sharing between the participating States with Area, sponsored by Michel Voisin (France), regard to democratic control of armed forces. stresses that the humanitarian and economic The report also addressed the challenges to consequences of cluster munitions are unaccept- parliamentary oversight at the European Union able. Highlighting the impact of these weapons level, reviewing the role of national parliaments on civilian populations, the item welcomes the and the European Parliament in the European adoption of the Convention on Cluster Muni- Security and Defense Policy and the Common tions at the Dublin Diplomatic Conference of Foreign and Security Policy. May 2008 and recommends that participating Finally, Mr. Grossruck stressed that the CoC States sign the document. It also encourages does not cover the activities of private contrac- participating States to ensure the destruction of tors and drew attention to the joint initiative all cluster munitions under their jurisdiction and from the Swiss government and the Interna- take measures to forbid the use, the production, tional Committee of the Red Cross for restating the transfer or the stockpile of cluster munitions

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General Committee on Political Affairs and Security

on their territory. The item was amended and such as increased adult literacy, teacher train- subsequently adopted by the Committee. ing, and the development of a professional army The supplementary item on cyber security, and police force. He also emphasized Canada’s sponsored by Paul-Eerik Rummo (Estonia), contribution to Afghanistan peace-building and underlines the great challenge posed by cyber reconciliation and implored the international attacks to governments and the growing con- community to continue its efforts in fi nding cerns expressed in international fora such as the solutions to Afghanistan’s urgent problems. Council of Europe, the European Union, NATO The debate stressed the need to balance secu- and the UN General Assembly. It urges OSCE rity and development efforts while empowering participating States and all other members of the Afghan authorities. The Resolution welcomes international community to consider joining the steps taken by the Government of Afghanistan Council of Europe Convention on Cybercrime in fulfi lling its commitments to democracy, secu- and encourages the relevant state legislatures to rity, good governance and economic and social improve co-operation in the fi eld of cyber secu- development, while expressing concerns with rity. Finally, it suggests that the OSCE functions the enduring challenges of terrorism and the as a regional mechanism supporting, coordinating illicit drug trade. It also pays tribute to the efforts and reviewing national activities in this fi eld. and sacrifi ces made by the Afghan people, ISAF The supplementary item on the Security Envi- contributing countries and numerous NGOs ronment in Georgia, sponsored by Alcee Hast- involved in Afghanistan. Further, the Resolution ings (USA), was adopted following the debate welcomes the Madrid Ministerial Decision on on the proposed amendments. It expresses con- OSCE Engagement with Afghanistan, recom- cern over the growing tensions in the confl ict mends greater co-operation and co-ordination zones of Georgia and the possible consequences with the United Nations, and encourages indi- for the broader European security environment. vidual participating States to pursue supplemen- It calls for renewed dialogue in the resolution of tary bilateral and multilateral efforts. Finally, it the current situation. suggests that the OSCE provide election support The supplementary item on Afghanistan, to Afghanistan in its upcoming presidential and sponsored by Consiglio Di Nino (Canada), parliamentary elections. highlights the OSCE’s engagement in Afghani- stan as crucial for the security of the OSCE Election of Offi cers region. One of Mr. Di Nino’s primary concerns was regarding the possibility of greater OSCE Chair: Jean-Charles Gardetto PA engagement with Afghan MPs, and in par- (Monaco) ticular whether they should be invited to the Vice-Chair: Consiglio Di Nino Toronto Fall Meetings. In addition, he men- tioned that economic sustainability is crucial for (Canada) Afghanistan’s development. He noted that there Rapporteur: Riccardo Migliori have been positive developments in the society, (Italy)

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General Committee on Economic Affairs, Science, Technology and the Environment

Anne-Marie Lizin speaks to reporters in Armenia

he Vice-Chair of the General Committee on The solution, Mr. Demilly emphasized, is sus- TEconomic Affairs, Science, Technology and tainable development and the realization of a the Environment, Petros Efthymiou (Greece), new system of agriculture and industry. Also opened the meeting on 30 June by introducing important is the need for countries to anticipate the draft agenda, which was adopted without and prevent catastrophes, as the Netherlands is objection. In the absence of Mr. Roland Blum doing with its water level warning system. (France), his colleague Mr. Stéphane Demilly To reduce greenhouse gases, questions of (France) presented the report to the Committee. energy, transport and habitat must be addressed, Mr. Demilly argued. These efforts need to com- Report and Resolution bine a more effi cient use of energy and the uti- lization of alternative sources of energy. Under In his introductory remarks, Mr. Demilly the current system, Mr. Demilly observed, one linked the question of environmental security to percent economic growth translates to 500,000 the issue of climate change, which was therefore barrels of oil per day. There is great hope, how- on the top of the Second Committee’s agenda. ever, with the second generation of bio-fuel He reminded the Committee of the 2007 climate being developed. There is also positive develop- conference that was held in Bali and evoked the ment with a more global approach being taken Madrid conference at which OSCE participat- to address these issues that includes the par- ing States adopted a document on environment ticipation of developing nations. International and security acknowledging that this topic rep- fi nancial institutions are working hard to help resents a signifi cant challenge. He informed the improve the situation, Mr. Demilly noted. committee that France, having recently assumed After debating and voting on 30 amendments, the presidency of the EU, has set the question of the Resolution was adopted on 1 July. climate change as a high priority for Europe. The acting Rapporteur then listed the main Supplementary Items causes of climate change and global warm- ing, which are all linked to human activity: The Second Committee debated, amended agriculture, phytosanitary products, urbaniza- and adopted seven supplementary items, deal- tion, deforestation, and industrialization and its ing with Mediterranean trade, European-North related industrial accidents. American trade, water management in the OSCE Environmental questions do not necessarily area, transparency in the extractive industries, lead to direct confl ict, Mr. Demilly noted, but small arms and light weapons, Chernobyl, and to a general weakening of international security vulture funds. which in some cases may lead to confl ict. Flood, The supplementary item on a Mediterranean drought, food crises, lack of access to clean Free Trade Area, sponsored by Jerahmiel Graf- water, and high levels of disease are all environ- stein (Canada), recommends the creation of a mental problems that contribute to migratory Mediterranean Economic Commission and a fl ows and weaken the security environment. Mediterranean Agricultural Marketing Board to

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General Committee on Economic Affairs, Science, Technology and the Environment

reduce trade barriers, facilitate the transition to of weapons, to complement the work under- a knowledge-based economy in the region, and taken by the UN. The supplementary item was create jobs in the agriculture sector, particularly amended twice and adopted by the Committee. for young people. After being amended twice, The supplementary item on Chernobyl, spon- the supplementary item was agreed to by the sored by Ms. Natalia Andreichik of the Bela- Committee. rusian Delegation, dealt with the remaining The supplementary item on Expanding Trade health, environmental and economic issues between North America and Europe was also resulting from the Chernobyl disaster of 1986, sponsored by Mr. Grafstein. Calling on OSCE particularly for Belarus, Russia and Ukraine. It participating States to support multilateral, calls for greater efforts from the OSCE coun- inter-institutional and bilateral initiatives to tries in the form of bilateral or multilateral co- promote European-North American trade, the operation in order to address the situation. The supplementary item was amended twice and supplementary item was adopted. adopted by the Committee. The last supplementary item considered by The supplementary item dealing with Water the Committee dealt with vulture funds. Spon- Management in the OSCE Area was sponsored sored by Ms. Gwen Moore (USA), this resolu- again by Mr. Grafstein. This item highlights tion raises awareness on the extra pressure put “the severity of water management issues and on poor countries when their debts are sold by scarcity of water resources faced by many states countries to funds, endangering the possibilities in the OSCE region,” and calls on participating for the country to restore a healthy economy. States to undertake sound water management The supplementary item was adopted. to support sustainable environmental policies. After being amended three times, the supple- Ivor Callely and mentary item was agreed to by the Committee. Petros Efthymiou The supplementary item on transparency in the extractive industries, sponsored by Mr. Di Nino, stresses the need to establish a legal framework for extractive industries, especially in poor countries. Improving transparency in this area would help to secure a stable and pre- dictable business environment. The resolution Election of Offi cers was adopted. Chair: Petros Efthymiou The supplementary item on small arms and light weapons calls for the embargo on these (Greece) types of weapons through greater control of Vice-Chair: Roland Blum aerial transport and traffi c. Sponsored by Mr. (France) Francois-Xavier De Donnea (Belgium), the item Rapporteur: Ivor Callely also encourages the fi ght against the exportation (Ireland) 15 17th Annual Session ✦ Report

General Committee on Democracy, Human Rights and Humanitarian Questions 2007 Annual Session, Kyiv

he acting Chair of the Third General Com- democratization. The report states that one of Tmittee on Democracy, Human Rights and the key factors in opening up archives is co- Humanitarian Questions, Ms. Hilda Solis operation between States. The Rapporteur noted (USA), presided over the four meetings of the that transparency is important for democratic Committee. Over the course of the meetings elections and good administration, as well as the Committee considered the report and draft the work of parliaments. resolution as well as seven supplementary The general debate on the report and resolu- items on Combating the Sexual Exploitation tion touched upon all the main issues covered of Children; Violence against Women; Recog- in the report, with a particular focus on access nizing the Economic, Cultural, Political and to political and historical archives. Members Social Contributions of Migrants; Combating expressed their support for the attention to Anti-Semitism, Especially its Manifestations transparency in this particular fi eld of work. in the Media and in Academia; the Holodo- Delegates also noted the need to protect against mor of 1932-1933 in Ukraine; Strengthening misuse of information gained from such politi- Efforts to Combat All Forms of Traffi cking cal and historical archives. Following consider- in Human Beings and Addressing the Special ation of a number of amendments, the resolution Needs of Child Victims; and on Observation was adopted by the Committee. Missions. Supplementary Items Report and Resolution The Third Committee considered, amended The Rapporteur of the Committee, Ms. Wal- and approved seven supplementary items. burga Habsburg-Douglas (Sweden) introduced The supplementary item on Combating the her report and resolution, which focused on Sexual Exploitation of Children was presented the importance of transparency in promoting by Vice-President Anne-Marie Lizin (Belgium). democracy and human rights. Ms. Habsburg- The resolution condemns all forms of child Douglas underscored that historical processes sexual exploitation and urges the participating that took place in the world with the end of the States to undertake specifi c and concrete meas- Cold War were drastic and rapid, thus denying ures to fi ght these crimes against children. many people the opportunity to reconcile with The supplementary item on Violence against the past. It is therefore now important to allow Women was presented by Vice-President Tone people easier access to political and histori- Tingsgaard (Sweden). The resolution reaffi rms cal archives to facilitate historical inquiry and the importance of the 2004 OSCE Action Plan

16 17th Annual Session ✦ Report

General Committee on Democracy, Human Rights and Humanitarian Questions

for Gender Issues and the 2005 Ministerial Efforts to Combat All Forms of Traffi cking Council Decision on Preventing and Combat- in Human Beings and Addressing the Special ing Violence Against Women, and calls upon Needs of Child Victims was proposed by Mr. participating States to take concrete actions to Christopher Smith (USA). It calls upon the par- fi ght violence against women, to protect women ticipating States to undertake comprehensive who are victims of domestic violence, and to measures to fi ght human traffi cking through increase economic opportunities for women. It strengthened legislation. also implores the OSCE and all participating The supplementary item on Observation Mis- States’ governments and Parliaments to take sions, presented by Mr. Christian Miesch (Swit- positive action in promoting women for leader- zerland), underscores the importance of election ship positions in all important spheres. observation by the OSCE and stresses the lead- The supplementary item on Recognizing the ership role that the Parliamentary Assembly Economic, Cultural, Political and Social Con- plays in this regard. tributions of Migrants was presented by Ms. Hilda Solis (USA). The resolution draws atten- Natalia Karpovich, tion to the positive contributions of migrants, Rapporteur of the urging the States to recognize these benefi ts and Third Committee to treat migrants accordingly. The supplementary item on Combating Anti- Semitism, Especially its Manifestations in the Media and in Academia was proposed by Mr. Gert Weisskirchen (Germany). The resolution calls attention to incidents of anti-Semitism and urges the participating States to undertake spe- Election of Offi cers cifi c steps in order to fi ght anti-Semitism, spe- cifi cally in the media. The supplementary item on the Holodomor Chair: Hilda Solis of 1932-1933 in Ukraine, presented by Mr. (USA) Oleh Bilorus (Ukraine), pays tribute to the Vice-Chair: Walburga Habsburg-Douglas victims of the Holodomor and invites all the (Sweden) participating States to join in commemorat- Rapporteur: Natalia Karpovich ing it. (Russian Federation) The supplementary item on Strengthening

17 17th Annual Session ✦ Report

Closing Plenary Session

n behalf of Finnish Chairmanship, Mr. ship as indicative of how much the world has OAlexander Stubb thanked the Government changed over the past 35 years. With the OSCE of Kazakhstan, its President, and the Speakers being chaired by a State that did not exist at of the Senate and Majlis for hosting the 17th the time of the Organization’s founding, it is Annual session in Astana. He remarked on what important to remember that the OSCE – like its an important player Kazakhstan is becoming in participating States – is an organization in tran- the OSCE and stressed the importance of devel- sition. It is therefore important, Mr. Stubb said, opment and Kazakhstan’s continued commit- to address the challenges facing the Organiza- ment to reform. tion. Expressing his gratitude in this regard to Mr. Stubb informed the Assembly of the main the participants of the Quintet Meeting in Hel- priorities of the Finnish Chairmanship, which sinki, he also gave credit to the OSCE PA for include resolving the confl icts in the Caucasus, the special role it plays. supporting the transition process in develop- One of the fundamental tasks of the OSCE, ing countries of the OSCE and bolstering co- Mr. Stubb went on to say, is election observa- operative security in Central Asia. Speaking tion. He once again reiterated the importance of the OSCE’s potential in confl ict resolution of co-operation between the OSCE PA and he stressed that this is a unique organization the ODIHR in this sphere. He also expressed stretching from North America to Europe and his hopes that the new President of the PA and over to Central Asia. He emphasized that it is new Director of the ODIHR would advance co- time to actually start resolving frozen confl icts operation for the sake of democratization in the rather than simply managing them, identifying OSCE area. He encouraged participants to share two key areas of concern for the OSCE: the their ideas and comments for the conversation Transdniestrian confl ict, which he noted has to be more interactive. had some positive developments, and the Cau- casus, where there has been increasing tension Secretary General’s Report in Abkhazia and South Ossetia. Mr. Stubb stated that in order to help out the OSCE PA Secretary General Spencer Oliver countries in transition it is necessary to focus thanked the Kazakh authorities for hosting the on three key areas: respect for human rights Annual Session and delivered a report on the and fundamental freedoms, the promotion of activities of the OSCE PA over the past year. He democracy and rule of law, and security in Cen- informed the Assembly of the Fall Meetings, tral Asia, particularly in Afghanistan. which were held in Portoroz in September 2007, Noting the progress made since the Helsinki and the OSCE PA’s participation in the Ministe- Conference of the 1970s, the Chairman-in- rial Council which was held last December in Offi ce pointed to the future Kazakh Chairman- Madrid. The Winter Meeting, held in Vienna

18 17th Annual Session ✦ Report

Closing Plenary Session in February 2008, was a success, Mr. Oliver President Lennmaker then opened up the fl oor reported, and the traditional Bureau Meeting to the consideration of the draft Astana Declara- held each April in Copenhagen also went well. tion. The Chairs of the three General Commit- The Secretary General then went on to thank the tees, Jean-Charles Gardetto, Petros Efthymiou various delegations that have hosted the Assem- and Hilda Solis, presented the work of each bly in the past year, and in particular the Danish Committee. Folketing, which hosts and offers generous sup- Following the presentations, the Astana port to the International Secretariat. Declaration, which consists of the fi nal resolu- Mr. Oliver briefed the Delegates on the PA’s tions from each of the three General Commit- extensive programme of election observation tees and the supplementary items referred to over the past year, noting that more than 250 par- the General Committees, was adopted by the liamentarians participated in election observa- Assembly. Prior to the closing of the Session, tion missions in Armenia, Kazakhstan, Ukraine, the election results of Assembly Offi cers were the Russian Federation, Georgia twice, Serbia, announced. Kyrgyzstan, and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia. In carrying out this work, Mr. Election of Offi cers Oliver noted, OSCE parliamentarians have truly made a great contribution to the development of President: Joao Soares democracy in the OSCE area. (Portugal) Treasurer: Hans Raidel Treasurer’s Report (Germany) Vice-President: Pia Christmas- In the absence of OSCE PA Treasurer Hans Moeller Raidel, President Goran Lennmarker reported (Denmark) that the Standing Committee unanimously Vice-President: Kassym-Jomart approved the budget for the next fi nancial year, Tokayev beginning on 1 October 2008. (Kazakhstan) Vice-President: Oleh Bilorus Consideration of Resolutions and Adop- (Ukraine) tion of Final Document Vice-President: Wolfgang Grossruck (Austria)

Joao Soares approaches the podium upon being elected President of the Assembly

19 17th Annual Session ✦ Report

20 17th Annual Session ✦ Report

Belarus & Guantanamo

he Belarusian Delegation to the OSCE PA, he OSCE PA’s Special Representative on Theaded by Mr. Sergey Zabolotets, and the TGuantanamo, Assembly Vice President OSCE PA Working Group on Belarus, chaired Anne-Marie Lizin, presented on 30 June her by Ms. Uta Zapf, met on the margins of the Ses- third report on the detention facility in Guan- sion to discuss further co-operation between the tanamo Bay, Cuba. The presentation in the Group and the delegation. The need for con- Third Committee was followed by a press con- tinued co-operation was emphasized, with par- ference. ticular attention paid to the planned Seminar on In her remarks, Ms. Lizin discussed the status Foreign Direct Investment of individual prison- and the upcoming visits of ers at Guantanamo, and the Working Group to Bela- remarked that the prison rus. Also discussed were and the military commis- the upcoming parliamentary sions set up to try terror- elections to be held on 28 ism suspects continue to September 2008. elicit widespread criti- The Working Group on cism from international Belarus was appointed in organizations, national October 1998 in order to governments and human assist in the development rights groups. She also of democracy in Belarus noted, however, that the and to facilitate national U.S. policy regarding the reconciliation. The main aim of the Working prison is likely to change following the upcom- Group has been to facilitate dialogue between ing U.S. election. Democratic presidential candi- the Government and the opposition of Bela- date Barack Obama is on record as favoring the rus in an effort to aid in the development of closing of the facility, Ms. Lizin noted, and for democracy. his part, the Republican candidate John McCain The Group has visited Belarus on many has also suggested that the facility should be occasions, meeting parliamentarians, govern- closed and that some of the detainees should be ment representatives, members of opposition transferred to high-security prisons on US soil. groups, representatives of civil society and the Ms. Lizin’s report followed her third visit to media. In all of its meetings, the Group has the detention facility, on 28 March 2008. Over stressed the importance of Belarusian partici- the past year, she has held numerous meetings pation in the OSCE process and the need to with representatives from OSCE participating fi nd peaceful and inclusive solutions to politi- States regarding the possible relocation of some cal issues in Belarus. of the detainees.

21 17th Annual Session ✦ Report

Gender Lunch

n keeping with tradition, a side meeting economic possibilities. She also offered exam- Ion gender issues, in the form of a working ples of some of the special training programmes lunch, was held on 1 July. Ms. Nurlygaim Jol- provided to police units to change attitudes and dasbayeva, Chairwoman of the Committee on help combat violence. Economic and Regional Policy in the Senate of Several participants took the fl oor to express Kazakhstan hosted the lunch, and Vice-Presi- their views on some of the points raised. The dent Tingsgaard led the discussions. The lunch rights of women at work were discussed, in par- provided an opportunity to discuss issues and ticular with regard to the question of access to challenges related to gender and to encourage managerial positions, maternity leave and the women to take more “Within the OSCE Parliamentary possibilities for working active roles within the mothers. In this regard, Assembly. Assembly, there is a maintained, stable it was noted that gender After welcoming and low participation of women. An equality is a strong asset participants to the increase in women’s involvement on a for fi nancial stability. lunch, Ms. Tings- greater scale at all levels can only be The question of the role gaard started by stat- achieved by increasing the participation and impact of men on ing that more women gender issues was also are needed in leader- of women within national parliaments of discussed, including ship positions on the OSCE participating States.” the need for a change governmental side of Vice-President Tone Tingsgaard in mentalities. This was the OSCE as well as particularly relevant in within the Assembly. She reminded participants regards to a more equitable sharing of respon- that changes should be initiated within national sibilities in the education of children, it was parliaments and also reaffi rmed the importance noted. There was also discussion of how crimes of raising the visibility of gender work and gen- against women are assessed by authorities. der-related issues in the OSCE. Members were particularly interested in learn- Ms. Monica Gutierrez Arques, Gender Advi- ing more regarding the situation of women in sor at the OSCE Secretariat in Vienna, gave Kazakhstan. a presentation on the situation in the OSCE Vice-President Tingsgaard closed the meeting governmental side. She provided MPs with an by encouraging active participation by women overview of actions undertaken by the OSCE in the Parliamentary Assembly, and calling on missions and institutions in order to help women women to run for leadership positions within to get involved in politics and to enhance their the PA.

22 17th Annual Session ✦ Report

Central Asia & NGO Meetings

he Central Asia meeting, held on 2 July, n 2 July President Lennmarker met with Twas chaired by Kimmo Kiljunen, OSCE Orepresentatives of Kazakh non-govern- PA Vice-President and Special Representative mental organizations in an informal briefi ng to for Central Asia, and by the President of the hear their views on the overall political situa- OSCE PA Goran Lennmarker. All of the Central tion in the country. Asian countries with the exception of Turkmen- Civil society representatives provided feed- istan were present as well as the delegates from back on the progress of reforms in Kazakhstan Turkey, representatives of the OSCE govern- in connection to the upcoming 2010 Chairman- mental side, OSCE PA Secretary General Spen- ship of the OSCE. The need for legal reforms cer Oliver and OSCE PA Programme Offi cer was touched upon, particularly in the fi elds of Anna Chernova. elections, media, and political parties. NGOs The primary issue discussed was regarding the also called for greater openness and accountabil- necessity of closer co-operation within Central ity in the work of the government. Much work Asia and between the Central Asian countries remains to be done in the fi eld of mass media in and the OSCE. There was general agreement Kazakhstan, the NGOs emphasized. The execu- that the region of Central Asia plays a vital role tive retains a strong hold on this sector, with the in the Organization and that this role will only ability to hinder the work of media outlets and increase when Kazakhstan assumes the Chair- unilaterally suspend their operations, the NGOs manship in 2010. reported. Mr. Kiljunen and Mr. Lennmarker called A few NGOs noted some worrying trends upon the Central Asian states to co-operate more in the treatment of minority religions in Kaza- closely with the OSCE in all of its endeavors. khstan. Many religious groups are having diffi - The delegates from the various countries agreed culties registering their activities in the country. to the proposals of holding more events in the Some are encountering politically motivated region in the future. Although some countries obstacles to gathering their congregations in noted that they would not have the resources to communities around the country. organize the events on the level Kazakhstan did In response, President Lennmarker empha- for the Annual Session, there still was a unani- sized that democratic values must always be mous agreement that it is of great importance considered. He reminded the NGOs that many to hold various events in other countries of the countries with a long-standing democratic tra- region as well. ditions continue to face challenges.

23 17th Annual Session ✦ Report

Offi cers of the Assembly

he Offi cers of the Assembly, also OSCE PA Bureau Members meeting on the Tknown as the Bureau, include fourth day of the 17th Annual Session the President, Vice-Presidents, the Treasurer, General Committee Offi c- ers and the President Emeritus. The Bureau is responsible for ensuring that the decisions of the Standing Committee are carried out, as well as for the effi cient operation of the Assembly between meetings of the Standing Committee. The Bureau takes decisions by majority vote.

Joao Soares sions, Mr. Lennmarker served as the Assembly’s (Portugal) Special Representative on the Nagorno-Kara- was elected Presi- bakh Confl ict. Mr. Lennmarker has been a dent of the Assem- Member of the Swedish Parliament since 1992 bly in July 2008 and serves as Chairman of the Foreign Affairs during the Annual Committee. Session in Astana, after having served Tone Tingsgaard (Sweden) for two years as was elected Vice-Pres- Vice-President. ident of the Assembly Mr. Soares has at the 2003 Annual Ses- been particularly sion, and re-elected in active in OSCE 2006. She also serves as PA election observation missions. Currently OSCE PA Special Rep- a Member of the Committee on National resentative on Gender Defence, Mr. Soares was fi rst elected to the Issues and as Chair of Portuguese Parliament in 1987 and has also the OSCE PA Ad Hoc served as a Member of the European Par- Committee on Abk- liament, including as a Member of the EP hazia and has partici- Bureau. From 1995 to 2002, Mr. Soares was pated in many OSCE Mayor of Lisbon, during which time he also PA election observation missions. She has been served as a Member of the State Council. a Member of Parliament since 1994. Ms. Tings- gaard is also a Lecturer in Russian at the Insti- Goran Lennmarker tute of Modern Languages, Uppsala University. (Sweden) currently serves as Pia Christmas- President Emeritus, Moeller after having served (Denmark) two terms as Assem- was elected Vice- bly President and three President during the terms as Chair of the Annual Session in Assembly’s First Gen- Washington in July eral Committee. In 2005 and re-elected addition to serving on during the 2008 numerous OSCE PA election observation mis-

24 17th Annual Session ✦ Report

Offi cers of the Assembly

Annual Session. She has been a Member of the is a frequent participant in election observation Danish Parliament since 1987, and was from missions. With a background in insurance, Mr. 2001-2007 the Political Affairs spokesperson Grossruck is also active in municipal politics for the Conservative People’s Party, with par- and is the Mayor of Grieskirchen. ticular expertise in foreign affairs and human rights issues. Ms. Christmas-Moeller is now Jerry Grafstein (Canada) an independent Member of Parliament. She has been re-elected as has a background in public policy, with exten- Assembly Vice-Presi- sive experience working with unemployment dent three times, after insurance. serving two terms as Treasurer and two Benjamin Cardin (USA) terms as Vice-Chair was elected Vice-Presi- of the Second Gen- dent of the Assembly at eral Committee. He the Annual Session in was appointed Sena- Brussels in July 2006, tor in 1984, while after having served as continuing his law Chair of the Second practice in corporate Committee. Senator and communications law. In 1966 he founded Cardin was elected and edited the Journal of Liberal Thought and is to the U.S. Senate in a co-founder of a range of media companies in 2006, and is currently Canada, South America, Europe and elsewhere. the Co-Chairman of He has written and edited numerous articles, the U.S. (Helsinki) papers and books on various topics within com- Commission on Security and Co-operation in munications and politics. Europe. As a Senator, he serves on the Foreign Relations Committee, Judiciary Committee, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev (Kazakhstan) Environment and Public Works Committee, was elected Vice- Budget Committee and Small Business Com- President in July mittee. Before his election to the Senate, Mr. 2008, in Astana. Cardin served for 20 years in the U.S. House Head of the Kazakh of Representatives. Delegation to the OSCE Parliamen- Wolfgang Grossruck (Austria) tary Assembly, he was re-elected Vice- has been Chair- President of the man of the Senate Assembly at the 2008 of Kazakhstan’s Annual Session in Parliament since Astana. It is a post January 2007. Mr. he has held since Tokayev came to July 2006. He has the Kazakh Parliament after a long career in also served as Rap- diplomacy and politics. He has been Deputy porteur of the First Minister as well as Minister of Foreign Affairs General Commit- and Prime Minister of the Republic of Kaza- tee. Mr. Grossruck khstan. He is presently also a member of the was fi rst elected to CIS Inter-parliamentary Assembly Council the Austrian Parliament in 1995 and has been and head of the Kazakh delegation to the Par- a Member of the Austrian Delegation to the liamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe. OSCE Parliamentary Assembly since 1996. He A Doctor of Political Science, Mr. Tokayev is

25 17th Annual Session ✦ Report

Offi cers of the Assembly

the author of a number of books and articles on Mr. Raidel has a background in administrative international affairs. management.

Kimmo Kiljunen (Finland) Oleh Bilorus (Ukraine) was elected Vice- was elected Vice- President of the President during the OSCE PA during 2008 Annual Session the Annual Session in Astana. Mr. Bilorus in Kyiv in 2007 and is Chairman of the re-elected in 2008. Permanent Delega- He also serves as tion of Ukraine to the the Assembly’s OSCE Parliamentary Special Represent- Assembly and Chair- ative for Central man of the Parlia- Asia. Dr. Kiljunen, ment Committee of a Member of the Foreign Affairs of the Finnish Parliament since 1995, has long been Verkhovna Rada (Parliament) of Ukraine. An active in the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly, economist, manager and diplomat, Mr. Bilorus including having served as Vice-Chair and has a Ph.D. in Economics and is a Full Pro- fessor and member of the Ukrainian National Chair of the General Committee on Political Academy of Sciences. He was fi rst elected a Affairs and Security, and as Chair of the Par- People’s Deputy of Ukraine in 1998. Prior to liamentary Team on Moldova. With a back- that, he had been the Ambassador of Ukraine ground in development issues, Dr. Kiljunen to the United States, Director General of the has published many books, both in England Institute of World Economy and International and Finland, on global development. Relations, and Director General of the Interna- tional Management Institute in Kyiv. Hans Raidel (Germany) was elected Treas- Anne-Marie Lizin (Belgium) urer of the Assem- was elected Vice Pres- bly in Kyiv in 2007 ident at the Annual after having served as Session in Kyiv in Vice-Chairman of the 2007, after having First General Com- served as Chair of mittee. Mr. Raidel has the Third Commit- been a Member of the tee since 2006. Prior German Parliament to that, she served since 1990, where he as Rapporteur of the serves as a Member Committee. She is of the Defence Com- also the OSCE PA mittee, and as Deputy-Member of the Foreign Special Representa- Affairs Committee. He is the Vice Chair to the tive on Guantanamo. Ms. Lizin, who was Committe of Disarmament and Arms Control in between 2004 and 2008 Speaker of the Belgian the German Parliament and the Vice-Chair in Senate, has a long history of involvement in the NATO Mediterranean Group. He is the chair women’s rights organizations. A former Secre- of the Centre of Co-operation in the Defence tary of State for European Affairs, Ms. Lizin is Economy, and is Head of Delegation to the Honorary Speaker of the Belgian Senate. She Euromeditteranean Parliamentary Assembly. has participated in several OSCE PA Election Observation Missions.

26 17th Annual Session ✦ Report

General Committee Offi cers

First General Committee on Political Affairs and Security

The General Committee on Political Affairs and Security (First Committee)

ne of the most important aspects of First General Committee Othe work of the Annual Session is the deliberation that takes place in the three Jean-Charles Gardetto (Monaco) General Committees. has served as Chair Following the Madrid Declaration, three of the First Commit- committees were established along the tee since 2006, after lines of the three main “baskets” or sec- having served as Vice- tions of the Helsinki Final Act: The First Chair of the Commit- General Committee on Political Affairs and tee. Mr. Gardetto has Security; the Second General Committee been a Member of the on Economic Affairs, Science, Technology National Council of and Environment; and the Third General Monaco since 2003, Committee on Democracy, Human Rights and is Head of Delega- and Humanitarian Questions. The Rappor- tion of Monaco to the teur of each Committee is responsible for OSCE PA. Mr. Gardetto is Chairman of the preparing a report and a draft resolution Foreign Relations Committee and a Member of to be presented to the Committee. Other the Legislative, Finance, Education & Youth and speakers and experts may also be invited to Women’s Rights Committees. He is also active address the Committees. After debate and in the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council discussion, a draft resolution is adopted of Europe, where he serves as Chair of the Sub- by each Committee for presentation to the Committee on Human Rights. As an attorney he Annual Plenary Session of the Assembly, is active in international legal organizations and which is then included in the Final Decla- associations. ration. The staff of the International Secretariat Consiglio Di Nino (Canada) receives invaluable assistance from the was elected Vice-Chair British House of Commons, adding experi- of the First General ence and expertise to the General Commit- Committee during the tees, the plenary sessions, and the drafting Annual Session in Committees. The Offi cers of the three Gen- Kyiv in 2007 and re- eral Committees join with the President, elected in 2008. He is Vice-Presidents, Treasurer, and President also the Head of the Emeritus to form the Assembly Bureau, Canadian Delegation which works to ensure the effi cient opera- to the OSCE PA. Sena- tion of the Assembly between meetings of tor Di Nino has been the Standing Committee. a Member of Parlia-

27 17th Annual Session ✦ Report

General Committee Offi cers

Second General Committee on Economic Affairs, Science, Technology and Environment

ment since 1990, and is currently the Chair of after having served the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs and as Vice-Chair of the International Trade. He has also been particu- Committee. A former larly active in OSCE PA election observation Minister of Education activities. Senator Di Nino has a background and Religious affairs, in business affairs. Mr. Efthymiou has a long background in Riccardo Migliori (Italy) media. He is now was elected Rap- member of the Com- porteur of the First mittee of Defence General Committee and Foreign Affairs during the Annual of the Greek Parliament. Mr. Efthymiou has Session in Astana. also been a Member of the European Parlia- Mr. Migliori has ment. been a member of the Italian delega- Roland Blum (France) tion to the OSCE was elected Vice- Parliamentary Chair of the Second Assembly since General Committee July 2006 and was at the Annual Ses- elected Head of the Delegation in June 2008. sion in Astana, after A member of the Chamber of Deputies, he having served several has served on the Constitutional Affairs Com- terms as Rapporteur mittee and as Deputy Chair of the Bicameral of the Committee. He Regional Affairs Committee. A member of is Vice-President of the PDL (Popolo della Liberta) Parliamentary the Foreign Affairs Group, he is also a member of the Committee Committee in the on Foreign Affairs. With a degree in law from French National Assembly, where he has served Florence University, Mr. Migliori has served since 1986. From 1984 to 1988 Mr. Blum was on the Florence City Council as well as on the a Member of the European Parliament. As a Tuscany Regional Council. member of the Foreign Affairs committee, he has been Rapporteur of several missions, including Second General Committee on the Nagorno-Karabakh confl ict, Non-Gov- ernmental Organizations and the World Trade Petros Efthymiou (Greece) Organization. He has been President of the mis- was elected Chairman of the Second General sion on the future of the Euromed. Committee at the July 2008 Session in Astana

28 17th Annual Session ✦ Report

General Committee Offi cers

Third General Committee on Democracy, Human Rights and Humanitarian Questions

Ivor Callely (Ireland) 2007, Representative Solis was named a member was elected Rappor- of the Commission on Security and Cooperation teur of the Second in Europe (Helsinki Commission). General Committee in Astana. Mr. Cal- Walburga Habsburg-Douglas (Sweden) lely is a member of was elected Vice- the 23rd Seanad of Chair of the Third Ireland and serves General Committee as Chairman of the during the Annual All Party Oireach- Session in Astana, tas Human Rights after having served Committee and as for one year as its Head of the Irish Rapporteur. Ms. Delegation to the OSCE Parliamentary Assem- Habsburg Douglas is bly. He is presently Government Spokesman on also the Head of the Enterprise, Trade and Employment as well as a Swedish Delegation member of the Joint Committee on Enterprise to the OSCE Parlia- and Small Business and the Joint Committee on mentary Assembly. With a background in law Foreign Affairs. and journalism, Ms. Habsburg-Douglas served as Secretary General of the International Pan- Third General Committee European movement prior to being elected to parliament in 2006. Hilda Solis (USA) was elected Chair Natalia Karpovich (Russian Federation) of the Third General was elected Rap- Committee at the 2008 porteur of the Third Annual Session, after General Commit- having served one year tee during the 17th as Vice-Chair. First Annual Session in elected to the House of Astana. Ms. Karpov- Representatives in 2000 ich is a lawyer and from the state of Cali- has a background in fornia, she currently sports education and serves as Vice-Chair of media. Elected to the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee Parliament in 2007, on Environment and Hazardous Materials. She she is Vice-Chair of also serves as a member of the House Committee the State Duma Committee on Family, Women on Natural Resources and the Select Committee and Children’s Affairs, as well as Chair of the on Energy Independence and Global Warming. In Sub-Committee on Demography. 29 17th Annual Session ✦ Report

Parliamentary Assembly Overview

The main elements of the Parliamentary Assembly are the Assembly Plenary, the Standing Committee of Heads of Delegation, the Bureau and the three General Committees.

The Plenary Bureau At the Annual Session, the Assembly meets The Assembly’s Bureau consists of the in Plenary to adopt a Final Declaration and President, the nine Vice-Presidents, the Resolutions and elect Assembly Offi cers. Treasurer, and the Offi cers of the three Decisions at the Annual Session are taken by General Committees. The President Emeritus majority vote. (immediately preceding former President) is General Committees also an ex offi cio non-voting Member. The Bureau is responsible for ensuring that the decisions of the Standing Committee are The work of the Assembly is divided into carried out. Decisions are taken by majority three General Committees, which correspond vote. to the three main sections of the Helsinki Final Act: Budget • The First General Committee on Political Affairs and Security; The Assembly’s budget covers most of the • The Second General Committee on organizational expenses related to the Annual Economic Affairs, Science, Technology and Session, Winter Meeting, Fall Meetings, Stand- Environment; ing Committee and Bureau Meetings, offi cial • The Third General Committee on visits, the election observation programme, as Democracy, Human Rights and Humanitarian well as the costs of the International Secretariat. Questions. Host Parliaments of the Annual Sessions have A Chair, Vice-Chair and Rapporteur are all contributed signifi cantly by providing con- elected for a one-year term by the members siderable support to these regular events, ensur- of each Committee. The General Committees ing their success and contributing substantive meet during the Annual Session and the Winter cost savings. The Danish Folketing has very Meeting. At meetings during the Annual Session, generously provided excellent offi ce facilities decisions are taken by majority vote. free of charge for the Assembly’s International Standing Committee Secretariat. Annual Session The Standing Committee consists of the 56 Heads of National Delegations and Members The Annual Session, held in early July every of the Bureau. The Standing Committee year, is the most important event in the OSCE guides the work of the Assembly, approves its Parliamentary Assembly calendar. At the end budget, and appoints the Secretary General. 30 17th Annual Session ✦ Report Annual Meeting Calendar

Jan Feb Mar April May June July Aug Sept Oct Nov Dec

Bureau Annual Session Fall Meetings Bureau Winter Meeting Standing Committe Standing Committee Standing Committee Bureau Mediterranean Forum

of each Annual Session, the Assembly Plenary Conferences adopts a Final Declaration addressing contem- porary issues within the fi elds of political affairs, Parliamentarians also review OSCE com- economic development and human rights. The mitments by participating in topical Seminars Final Declarations contain specifi c calls on and Conferences, organized on a regular basis participating States to adhere to their OSCE by the Assembly. These inter-parliamentary commitments as well as recommendations on fora focus on specifi c OSCE themes, such as strengthening OSCE institutional structures. minorities and freedom of religion, as well as on regional issues, such as the Trans-Asian dimen- Winter Meeting sion of the OSCE and the Mediterranean. The OSCE PA also organizes an Economic Confer- In February 2001, the Standing Committee ence every two years. All these fora provide the approved the holding of an annual OSCE PA parliamentarians with occasions to exchange Winter Meeting in Vienna. The Winter Meeting views with colleagues and international experts is the second largest event in the OSCE PA and to deepen their understanding of OSCE calendar, and has now been held each February issues within the wider context of the OSCE’s since 2002. It provides an opportunity for the comprehensive concept of security. three General Committees to have additional discussions and debates among themselves as Membership Seats per Total well as to be briefed by senior OSCE offi cials Country who have responsibilities related to the United States of America 17 17 work of each of the Committees. The Winter Russian Federation 15 15 Meeting also allows parliamentarians to hear presentations by the three General Committee France, Germany, Italy, and United Kingdom 13 52 Rapporteurs and to discuss their ideas on Canada and Spain 10 20 their draft resolutions for the Annual Session. Belgium, Netherlands, Poland, Sweden, Turkey, and Ukraine 8 48 Fall Meetings Romania 7 7 Austria, Belarus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Each year the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly Finland, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Kazakhstan, organizes a set of Fall Meetings to enhance inter- Norway, Portugal, Switzerland, and Uzbekistan 6 78 parliamentary dialogue on important topics Bulgaria and Luxembourg 5 10 related to OSCE commitments and values. The Serbia and Slovak Republic 4 8 Meetings include a Conference on a topical Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bosnia and issue, a session of the Assembly’s Standing Herzegovina, Croatia, Cyprus, Estonia, Committee of Heads of Delegations and Georgia, Iceland, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lithuania, typically also a meeting of the Mediterranean former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Malta, Moldova, Montenegro, Slovenia, Forum. The fi rst set of Fall Meetings took Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan 3 57 place in 2002 in Madrid, followed each year by Andorra, Liechtenstein, Monaco, and San Marino 2 8 meetings in Rome, Rhodes, Sveti-Stefan, Malta, and Portoroz. Total seats 320

*The Holy See may send two representatives to the Assembly’s meetings as guests of honour. 31 17th Annual Session ✦ Report

Annual Sessions and Declarations

2002 Annual Session, Berlin

o far, seventeen Annual Sessions have been Helsinki 1993 Sheld, the fi rst in Budpest in 1992 and the latest in Astana in 2008. The Helsinki Decla- ration included a full chapter on the crisis Budapest 1992 in the former Yugo- slavia, illustrating the The Assembly importance attached passed the Buda- to this issue. The Declaration also called for the pest Declaration establishment of a CSCE Security Committee which addressed issues relating to European and a CSCE decision-making procedure which security, peacekeeping, environmental co-oper- no longer requires consensus or “consensus- ation, human rights and the crisis in the former minus-one”. The Assembly expressed its deter- Yugoslavia. The Declaration also urged par- mination to emphasize monitoring of elections liamentarians of the CSCE to participate more as an important task on the CSCE Parliamentary actively in the prevention, management and set- agenda. The Helsinki Declaration appealed to the tlement of confl icts, and invited all national par- parliaments of the CSCE participating States to liaments to participate in a session or a debate intensify their efforts to support the transforma- each year to discuss the state of progress in tion process in the countries of Central and East- CSCE co-operation. Furthermore, the Budapest ern Europe and the former Soviet Union. Declaration recommended that the CSCE send observers to Kosovo and Vojvodina and other Vienna 1994 threatened regions to monitor the protection of minorities. The Budapest Session also resolved Again the Assembly to accept the invitation of the Danish Parliament included a chapter (Folketing) to locate the International Secretar- on the crisis in the iat of the CSCE PA in Copenhagen, Denmark. Former Yugoslavia in the adopted Declara-

32 17th Annual Session ✦ Report

Annual Sessions and Declarations tion. The Vienna Declaration also included the bers of a particular national or ethnic group. The development of a Code of Conduct in the fi eld Assembly also strongly supported the establish- of political and military security, the Chernobyl ment of an international criminal court. tragedy, the International War Crimes Tribunal and the human rights situation in Turkey. The Stockholm 1996 Vienna Declaration furthermore requested that the CSCE Budapest Summit Meeting debate the The Fifth Annual Session creation of a formal procedure for considering focused on the discussion CSCE PA resolutions and recommendations, so of a Comprehensive Secu- that co-operation between the CSCE Assembly rity Model for Europe for and the CSCE could be further strengthened. At the 21st Century. The fi nal the same time, the Assembly also urged national Declaration reiterated the Parliamentary Assem- parliaments to consider the creation of a formal bly’s support for the adoption of a broad concept procedure for con- “It is the task of the Assembly to bring the of security, stress- sideration of the ing, inter alia, the resolutions adopted views and suggestions of democratically importance of eco- by the Parliamen- elected Parliaments and Parliamentarians to nomic stabilization tary Assembly of the the governments of the CSCE.” and environmen- CSCE. The Assem- Illka Suominen, tally sustainable bly continued to call fi rst CSCE PA President, 1992-94 development in the for change in the security dimen- CSCE’s consensus rule, in order to accelerate sion. The Assembly called for the creation of a and streamline CSCE decision-making proce- common European security area in which exist- dures. ing OSCE commitments could be implemented. To carry out these OSCE commitments, the Dec- Ottawa 1995 laration also emphasized the need to develop and strengthen preventive diplomacy, confl ict pre- The Ottawa Dec- vention and post-confl ict rehabilitation. laration encom- The Stockholm Assembly also adopted a draft passed a series Code of Conduct on the “Politico-Democratic of resolutions Aspects of Co-operation,” which recognized and recommen- the increased interdependency of States and dations relating to OSCE activities regard- stressed that international confl icts should only ing the Former Yugoslavia, the Baltic region, be resolved through peaceful political means. Nagorno-Karabakh, Chechnya and Moldova. The Assembly stressed the need for strengthen- Warsaw 1997 ing the Institutions of the OSCE and called for the development of criteria that would allow for The Sixth Annual the suspension of a participating State in case of Session focused “fl agrant failure to implement OSCE decisions on enhancing the and commitments.” The Ottawa Declaration implementation of also urged the OSCE and its participating States commitments under- to actively explore decision-making procedures taken in the context of the CSCE and OSCE, based on an approximate consensus. including the Helsinki Final Act, the Charter The Assembly called upon participating of Paris and the Budapest and Lisbon Summit States to ensure that equal rights are given to documents. all individuals as citizens rather than as mem- The Resolution concerning Political Affairs

33 17th Annual Session ✦ Report

Annual Sessions and Declarations

and Security focused on implementing the prin- Common Security ciples of territorial integrity and the inviolabil- and Democracy in ity of State frontiers. In the fi eld of Economic the Twenty-First Cen- Affairs, Science, Technology and the Envi- tury. The St. Peters- ronment, a resolution was passed to promote burg Declaration also economic co-operation and provide assistance included resolutions to the countries undertaking the transition to on the situation in market economies. The Resolution on Democ- Kosovo, which wel- racy, Human Rights and Humanitarian Ques- comed the end of military hostilities, the demo- tions focused on the importance of the media cratic defi cit within the OSCE, the role of the in a democracy, stressing that an independent, OSCE in crisis prevention and confl ict set- pluralistic and free media can play a decisive tlement, the problem of human traffi cking, as role in the resolution of existing confl icts. well as resolutions concerning specifi c issues in Belarus, Russia and South-Eastern Europe. Copenhagen 1998 Reiterating the Assembly’s commitment to reforming the Institutions of the OSCE and The Copenhagen Decla- redressing the democratic defi cit in the Organi- ration stated that in order zation, the St. Petersburg Declaration called for to meet the challenge the Parliamentary Assembly to be consulted of implementing OSCE more widely on issues of major importance, principles and commit- such as the appointment of the Secretary Gen- ments with greater effec- eral and the budgetary activities of the main tiveness, a refi nement of OSCE Institutions. existing OSCE tools and resources should be pursued. The Assembly also Bucharest 2000 continued to call for revision of OSCE decision- making procedures and urged the OSCE Min- Covering a wide isterial Council to “consider expanding those range of issues, the circumstances under which the existing consen- Assembly passed sus-minus-one decision-making mechanism is resolutions calling utilized to include, inter alia, approval of budg- on all sides to pave ets, deployment of missions and selection of the way for free, fair senior personnel.” and internationally recognizable parliamentary A supplementary item on Kosovo appealed elections in Belarus and, regarding Moldova, to all parties in the Kosovo confl ict to return to expressing its concern about the stalemate in the the principles of non-violence, and denounced negotiations on the status of Transdniestra and the policies of the Government of the Fed- emphasizing the need for a common State for eral Republic of Yugoslavia for its military all the peoples of Moldova. aggression against the Albanian population of The Assembly also adopted a resolution on Kosovo. developments in the North Caucasus, calling for The Declaration urged the OSCE to imple- a political solution to the confl ict in Chechnya. ment gender mainstreaming in all its activities. The Assembly also passed a resolution calling for a convention regulating the arms trade. St. Petersburg 1999 The Assembly adopted a resolution calling for reduced reliance on secondment Looking ahead to the new millennium, reso- in the long-term fi eld missions to ensure lutions were passed on the general theme of the continuity of the missions’ work. On

34 17th Annual Session ✦ Report

Annual Sessions and Declarations economic and environmental issues, the pating States that any measures taken to address Assembly appealed to all OSCE participating terrorism must fully respect international law States to honour their commitments under the and relevant OSCE commitments. It also called Kyoto and Århus Protocols. Other resolutions upon the governments of participating states to included appeals to abolish the death penalty revise the Bucharest Plan of Action for Combat- for all crimes. ing Terrorism by including provisions relating to the impact of terrorism on women, and by Paris 2001 recognizing the need for increased participation of women in the process of confl ict prevention The Paris Decla- and confl ict resolution. ration included The Assembly urged the government of a unanimously Belarus to co-operate with the OSCE in facili- adopted a resolu- tating compliance with OSCE commitments, tion on strength- and the leadership of Moldova and Transdnies- ening transparency and accountability in the tria to resume dialogue on the status of Transd- OSCE and proposed that before making major niestria. decisions the Ministerial Council should take The resolution on anti-Semitic violence con- into account the opinion of the OSCE Parlia- demned the alarming escalation of anti-Semitic mentary Assembly. The Assembly also recom- violence in the OSCE region. mended that as long as the OSCE complies with the strict consensus rule the decision-making Rotterdam 2003 process should not be secret and that objections to any proposal must be made known to any The Rotterdam Declaration stated that with interested OSCE participating State or OSCE Europe’s ongoing development in security Institution. structures, the OSCE’s real strength lies in An Ad Hoc Committee was established to its capacity to respond to security threats and monitor the implementation of the resolution challenges and in its strong fi eld presence. To and to promote transparency and accountability uphold the credibility of the OSCE, it added, it in the OSCE. is imperative to provide the OSCE fi eld activi- Resolutions were also adopted on the aboli- ties with adequate funding and high-quality tion of the death penalty; prevention of torture, staff. abuse, extortion or other unlawful acts; combat- The Declaration recommended that the ing traffi cking in human beings, corruption and OSCE Permanent Council be requested to con- international crime. sult the PA prior to making a decision to termi- nate any OSCE fi eld activity. Berlin 2002 The Declaration also suggested that the OSCE should adopt a more balanced regional The Berlin Decla- approach to promoting the implementation of ration resolutely the participating States’ human dimension com- condemned all acts mitments. The Assembly also adopted a resolu- of terrorism, what- tion on the parliamentary follow-up of OSCE ever their motiva- activities at the national level. National Parlia- tions or origin, and ments were encouraged to introduce practices underlined the solidarity of the OSCE Parlia- whereby annual reports on the activities of the mentary Assembly in the struggle against ter- OSCE PA by national OSCE PA delegations rorism. are regularly debated in an appropriate manner The Declaration reminded all OSCE partici- in national parliaments.

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Annual Sessions and Declarations

Edinburgh 2004 The importance of respecting human rights commitments was also emphasized, includ- The Edinburgh Dec- ing voting rights. In this context, the Assembly laration condemned recalled the obligation of participating States to terrorism in all forms allow international OSCE observers of election and manifestations and procedures. called upon the inter- The document supported recommendations national community to on OSCE reform, based on reports by the 2005 target the profound political, social, economic Panel of Eminent Persons appointed by the and environmental causes of terrorism and to Chairman-in-Offi ce and the OSCE PA’s June ensure that the fi ght against terrorism be carried 2005 colloquium on ‘The Future of the OSCE.’ out in compliance with the principles of the UN The Assembly also called upon the OSCE to Charter and international law. improve the gender balance in the organization The Assembly also adopted a resolution on and to adopt more transparency and account- torture calling upon all participating States to ability in its working methods. The document abide by the obligation that no exceptional cir- addressed issues on fi ghting piracy, relations cumstances may be invoked as a justifi cation of in the Mediterranean region, countering cor- torture. ruption, stopping the traffi c in small arms, and A resolution called on sustained OSCE atten- combating traffi cking in human beings. The tion to fulfi lling commitments regarding the Assembly also passed a resolution calling for fi ght against racism, anti-Semitism and xeno- the citizens of Washington, DC to be granted phobia. In the resolution on Kosovo, the Assem- voting representation in the U.S. Congress. bly called upon participating States to provide the additional forces necessary to maintain sta- Brussels 2006 bility and to ensure a secure environment for those persons wishing to return to their homes The Brussels Declara- in Kosovo. tion called for increased A resolution on co-operation between the support for OSCE Field OSCE and the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly Missions and closer co- reiterated previous recommendations that the operation with other OSCE carry out the necessary reforms with international organiza- regard to its consensus decision-making pro- tions on this issue. The Assembly also empha- cedure. The resolution also requested that the sized the importance of energy security, calling OSCE PA be given free access to all OSCE for increased dialogue between participating meetings and recommended that the Special States to ensure reliable supplies of energy. Representative of the OSCE PA in Vienna be Regarding election observation, the Assem- included in consultative processes. bly urged continued political leadership by parliamentarians, who provide “visibility and Washington 2005 credibility” to such missions. The Declaration also called attention to ‘crimes of honour,’ and In the Washing- urged legislative action to combat these prac- ton Declaration, the tices. The Assembly also noted the need for Assembly addressed greater attention to the protection of children’s a range of politi- rights, and legislative action to combat child cal issues, including pornography. increasing information exchanges with non- The Assembly issued a specifi c call for OSCE OSCE States on traffi cking and upgrading the States to ensure that their territory is not used status of the OSCE’s Forum for Security Co- to assist rendition fl ights or to operate secret operation. detention centres. Recommendations on settling 36 17th Annual Session ✦ Report

Annual Sessions and Declarations

2007 Annual Session, Kyiv

the Transdniestrian confl ict in Moldova, deal- and energy and environmental security. ing with the consequences of natural disasters, Reaffi rming the crucial importance of all combating corruption, democratic and anti-Semitism and “Since its creation in 1990, the OSCE values, the other forms of intoler- Parliamentary Assembly has worked to refl ect Declaration ance were also issued the aspirations of the peoples across the OSCE called on Bela- by the parliamentar- area. It has consistently driven forward the rus and govern- ians. debate among participating States. With all ments of other The Assembly this, the parliamentary dimension has become OSCE partici- offered strong sup- pating States port to the work of vital for the good health of the Organization.” to pursue their Alexander Stubb, the United Nations in international OSCE Chairman-in-Offi ce, 2008 Afghanistan, and rec- commitments ommended further and principles consideration of increased co-operation with linked to the notion of each being a free and representatives of Afghanistan. democratic country. Ukrainian President Victor Yushchenko, and Kyiv 2007 the OSCE Chairman-in-Offi ce, Spanish Foreign Minister Miguel Angel Moratinos, addressed The OSCE Parliamen- the meeting. tary Assembly ended its The Declaration urged all OSCE participat- 16th Annual Session in ing States to sign and ratify the Energy Charter Kyiv by adopting a Dec- Treaty and the Kyoto Protocol. It also called for laration that expresses greater action on migration and against human regret at the lack of traffi cking, especially children, and for the dis- progress in resolving so- mantling of criminal networks which facilitate called ‘frozen confl icts’ illegal migration. In addition, it contained pro- in the OSCE region and recommends strength- visions on women; peace and security; cluster ened action in several fi elds including migration bombs; environmental security; human rights and intolerance. 37 17th Annual Session ✦ Report

Programme of the 2008 Annual Session

Rights and Humanitarian Questions (Sary Arka 1 – Ground fl oor)

09.00 – 10.30 General Committee on Economic Affairs, Science, Technology and Environment (Sary Arka 4 – 2nd fl oor)

11.00 – 12.30 General Committee on Political Affairs and Security (Sary Arka 1 – Ground fl oor)

12.45 – 14.15 Working Lunch on Gender Issues hosted by Saturday, 28 June the Parliament of Kazakhstan

12.00 – 20.00 Registration 14.30 – 16.00 General Committee on Economic Affairs, Science, Technology and Environment 18.00 – 19.00 Briefi ng for Secretaries of Delegations (Sary Arka 4 – 2nd fl oor) (Sary Arka 1 – Ground fl oor) 14.30 – 16.00 General Committee on Democracy, Human 19.00 – 19.30 Reception for Secretaries of Delegations hosted Rights and Humanitarian Questions (Sary Arka 1 – Ground fl oor) by the Parliament of Kazakhstan 17.00 – 18.30 General Committee on Political Affairs and Sunday, 29 June Security (Sary Arka 1 – Ground fl oor) 09.00 – 12.00 Meeting of the Standing Committee (Sary Arka 4 – 2nd fl oor) Wednesday, 2 July

14.30 – 16.00 Inaugural Plenary Session 07.00 – 09.00 Time reserved for meetings of various groups (Sary Arka 1 – Ground fl oor) 09.00 – 11.00 General Committee on Economic Affairs, Monday, 30 June Science, Technology and Environment (Sary Arka 4 – 2nd fl oor)

07.00 – 08.45 Time reserved for meetings of various groups 09.00 – 11.00 General Committee on Democracy, Human Rights and Humanitarian Questions (Sary Arka 1 – Ground 09.00 – 11.00 General Committee on Political Affairs and fl oor) Security (Sary Arka 1 – Ground fl oor) 11.30 – 13.30 General Committee on Political Affairs and Security (Sary Arka 1 – Ground fl oor) 09.00 – 11.00 General Committee on Economic Affairs, Science, Technology and Environment (Sary Arka 4 – 2nd fl oor) 13.30 – 14.00 Meeting of the Bureau (Sary Arka 2 – Ground fl oor) 11.30 – 13.30 General Committee on Democracy, Human Rights and Humanitarian Questions (Sary Arka 1 – Ground 15.00 – 18.00 Plenary Session (Sary Arka 1 – Ground fl oor) fl oor)

14.30 – 18.00 Excursion: Visit to the complex “Map of Thursday, 3 July Kazakhstan Atameken,” concert with national songs and dances, national games, cuisine and exhibition 07.00 – 09.15 Time reserved for meetings of various groups

19.30 – 21.00 Reception hosted by H.E. Kassym-Jomart 09.30 – 12.30 Plenary Session (Sary Arka 1 – Ground fl oor) Tokayev, Speaker of the Senate of the Parliament of the Republic of Kazakhstan (Reception House “Saltanat Saraiy”) 12:30 Adjournment immediately followed by a reception offered by the President of the OSCE Parliamentary Tuesday, 1 July Assembly

07.00 – 08.45 Time reserved for meetings of various groups

09.00 – 10.30 General Committee on Democracy, Human

38 17th Annual Session ✦ Report

39 17th Annual Session ✦ Report

Philippe Nobile

The OSCE PA International Secretariat provides administrative support for the Assembly in its various activities. The Secretariat organizes the meetings of the Assembly, and provides support for election observation projects, special missions and Presidential activities. Its work is carried out in co-operation with other OSCE Institutions and international parliamentary organizations. The Secretariat, which is hosted by the Danish Parliament, is headed by Secretary General Spencer Oliver, and has a permanent staff of 17, including two staff members at the liason offi ce in Vienna. Secretary General Spencer Oliver

Deputy Secretary Deputy Secretary Special Presidential Director of Assistant to the General General Representative Advisor Communications Secretary General Tina Schøn Gustavo Pallares Andreas Nothelle Andreas Baker Klas Bergman Dana Bjerregaard

Programme Financial Advisor Liaison Offi cer Senior Counsellor Logistics Offi cer Conference Offi cer Per-Henrik Dürr Marc Carillet Semyon Dzakhaev Petra Jezkova Co-ordinator Anna Chernova Odile LeLarge

General Senior Secretary Research / Publi- IT-Supporter Services Offi cer Connie Mathiesen cations Offi cer Stephen Paul Kurt Lerras 40 Nat Parry 17th Annual Session ✦ Report

VVancouveran.couver VVladivostokladivostok .

he OSCE Parliamentary Assembly is the parliamentary dimension of the Organi- Tzation for Security and Co-operation in Europe, whose 56 participating States span the geographical area from Vancouver to Vladivostok.

The primary task of the 320 member Assembly is to facilitate inter-parliamentary dialogue, an im- portant aspect of the overall effort to meet the challenges of democracy throughout the OSCE area. Recognized as a regional arrangement under Chapter VIII of the United Nations Charter, the OSCE is a primary instrument for early warning, confl ict prevention, crisis management and post-confl ict rehabilitation in its area. The Parliamentary Assembly, originally established by the 1990 Paris Sum- mit to promote greater involvement in the OSCE by national parliaments, has grown into a very ac- tive and esteemed member of the OSCE family.

The basic objectives of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly are:

• To assess the implementation of OSCE objectives by participating States;

• To discuss subjects addressed during meetings of the Ministerial Council and the summits of Heads of State or Government;

• To develop and promote mechanisms for the prevention and resolution of confl icts;

• To support the strengthening and consolidation of democratic institutions in OSCE participating States;

• To contribute to the development of OSCE institutional structures and of relations between existing OSCE Institutions.

To pursue these objectives, the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly employs a variety of means:

• A Final Declaration and a number of resolutions and recommendations are adopted each year at the Annual Session in July;

• Committee work addresses important contemporary international issues;

• Programmes and Seminars designed to develop and strengthen democracy including an extensive election observation programme;

• Special parliamentary missions to areas of latent or active crisis.

41 OSCE Parliamentary Assembly International Secretariat Radhusstraede 1 1466 Copenhagen K Denmark Telephone: +45 33 37 80 40 Telefax: +45 33 37 80 30 E-mail: [email protected] Internet: www.oscepa.org