News from Copenhagen

Number 21 Current Information from the OSCE PA International Secretariat 19 February 2001 Third Committee President Adrian Severin Visits Portugal Officers Meet in From 16-18 February 2001, of Portugal Jorge Sampaio, Prime During his meetings Mr. Severin President Severin paid an official visit Minister Antonio Guterres and Deputy emphasized that the Assembly is an Berlin to Portugal, since January 2001 a Speaker of the Portuguese Parliament, essential OSCE Institution that brings The Bureau of the Third member of the OSCE Troika, at the Mr. Narana Coissoró. Mr. Severin added value to OSCE undertakings. General Committee met in invitation of Mr Antonio Reis, Head also met the Secretary of State Luis President Severin also underlined Berlin on 8-9 February 2001. of the Portuguese Delegation to the Amado as well as with Ambassador the need for transparency in OSCE The Bureau consists of the OSCE PA. In addition to meetings with João Rosa Lã who will lead the OSCE decision-making mechanisms as well Officers of the Committee; Mr Reis and the Portuguese Delegation unit in the Foreign Ministry during the as for better inter-Institutional Mr. Gert Weisskirchen Mr. Severin met with the President Portuguese Chairmanship next year. co-ordination in the OSCE. (Germany) as Chair, Senator Dorota Somonides (Poland), Credentials Committee on Belarus Meets in Vienna as Vice-Chair and Ms. Elena The Credentials Committee on Supreme Soviet, the body currently Hans-Georg Wieck, Head of the OSCE Mizulina (Russia) as Belarus as appointed by President Severin, recognized by the OSCE PA. The AMG, and Mr. Gert Weisskirchen, Rapporteur. will meet on 22 February 2001 in Vienna Credentials Committee is chaired by Member of the Ad hoc Working Group Deputy Secretary General to prepare recommendations for the Mrs, Tone Tingsgård () and on Belarus will meet with the Pentti Väänänen attended the Standing Committee on whether to accept includes Mr. Antonio Reis (Portugal) Credentials Committee and present their meeting on behalf of the the challenges of the representatives of and Mrs. Geertje Lycklama a Nijeholt testimony. The Committee will present Secretariat and Mr. Nikolai the newly elected National Assembly of (). In addition to the two their recommendation to the Standing Mizulin attended as the adviser Belarus to the Delegation of the 13th delegations from Belarus, Ambassador Committee on Thursday, February 22. to the Rapporteur. The Rapporteur, Ms. New Presidential Advisor Mizulina, introduced her ideas about the report to be Mr. Gustavo Pallares from has joined the presented to the Tenth Annual Copenhagen Secretariat as Presidential Advisor, a new Session of the OSCE PA in post approved in the budget in Bucharest last year. He Paris in July 2001. The report will be responsible for supporting and coordinating will deal with the situation the activities of President Severin as well as undertak- of national minorities in the ing other responsibilities in the Secretariat. OSCE participating States. Mr. Pallares, who speaks French and English is a The aim is to analyse and Political Science Graduate specialised in European and discuss the rights and International Affairs. He has good experience in inter- responsibilities of national national parliamentary issues, having worked for the minorities and their relations European Parliament and for the Spanish Parliament for to the State. A political four years as adviser to Mr. Javier Rupérez, Third Presi- resolution will be drafted on dent of the OSCE PA (1996 - 98), and also President the basis of the report. of the NATO Assembly (1998 - 2000). He was one of The Rapporteur was the two first international interns to work at the OSCE asked to inform the Standing PA Secretariat in 1995. Before joining the International Committee ofher plans in Secretariat. Mr. Pallares was Executive Director of the Vienna on 22-23 February. A Fundación Humanismo y Democracia in Madrid. draft report will be presented to the Expanded Bureau of New Research Fellows the OSCE PA in April. The As of 1 February 2001 the following new Research Bureau of the Third General Fellows have joined the International Secretariat: Committee agreed to meet Ms. Ffiona Kyte (United Kingdom) on the eve of the Expanded President Severin meets President of the Belgian Veronika Kotek (Switzerland) Bureau to discuss the draft Armand de Decker during recent visit to . Nathaniel Parry (USA) and its presentation. The meeting also discussed the forthcoming Parliamentarians to Observe Elections in Moldova meeting of the Prize 36 parliamentarians from 15 Special Representative of the OSCE election day the parliamentarians Committee of the OSCE OSCE participating States will observe Chairman-in-Office. Prior to the will be deployed across the country Prize for Journalism and the parliamentary elections in Moldova elections the parliamentarians will to observe the voting process. Democracy to be held in on Sunday 25 February 2001. The be thoroughly briefed by the OSCE During a press conference on conjunction with the OSCE PA Observation Delegation will Mission to Moldova and by Monday 26 February, Mr. Kiljunen Expanded Bureau of the be headed by Mr. Kimmo Kiljunen, representatives of political parties as will deliver the OSCE Preliminary OSCE PA in April. who is also expected to act as the well as government officials. On Statement assessing the Elections.

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