Committee members also heard a report by PA OSCE Treasurer Jerry Grafstein on the current financial situation and annual payments and approval of the Budget for FY 2007-2008.
Committee members heard the theses of report of the PA Secretary General, discussed amendments to the Rules of Procedure, report on the results of Economic Conference held on May 24-26 in Andorra and information on preparations for the 16th Annual Session in Kyiv. A separate discussion was organized to approve the membership of Common Committees and additional provisions to draft resolutions.
Participants of the meeting also heard information about the election observer mission and reports on the work of Special Committees and Special Representatives. Special attention was paid to organizing a meeting of the Standing Committee, Conference and Mediterranean Forum that will be held on September 29-October 2, 2007 in Portorozh, Slovenia.
In his report, PA OSCE President Goran Lennmarker said that "the successful work of the PA OSCE depends, first and foremost, on the financial situation of the organization". He emphasized that "today, the situation is excellent". This statement was confirmed by PA OSCE Treasurer Jerry Grafstein.
He said that the management of activities of the International Secretariat is efficient and carried out within the auspices of the annual budget as before, as approved by the Standing Committee in the previous year. "Our finances are in complete order. As before, we do not go beyond the limits and, as our auditing inspectors acknowledge, the financial procedures that we apply meet the highest standards. I am sure that we need to follow this practice in the future, namely to adhere to the principles of economy, justified needs and efficiency and respect for the principle of accountability," J. Grafstein said.
Whilst presenting the theses of his report PA OSCE Secretary General Spencer Oliver said that these dealt primarily with the Fall Session on Malta, the 6th Annual Winter Session in Vienna, Economic Conference in Andorra, election observer mission, activities of the PA OSCE President, work of Special Representatives and Special Committees, organization´s budget, activities of the International Secretariat and Young Researchers Program.
He also stressed that the PA OSCE was able to establish a very positive image among international organizations through "the dedicated work of members of parliament who participated in PA OSCE activities in the initial years and during the period of its development, without the programs that have been vigorously implemented over the last few years ".
Participants of the meeting also discussed the main problems in organizing the 17th Annual Session in July 2008 in Kazakhstan and other meetings to be held in the future.