Ukrainian
delegation, headed by Chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee, Head of the
Verkhovna Rada Standing Delegation in the OSCE PA Oleh Bilorus, includes People´s
Deputies L.Biriuk, S.Shevchuk and M.Perestenko.
The 20th Annual Session of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly is being held from 6 to 10 July in Belgrade, Serbia, under the general theme of "Strengthening the OSCE's Effectiveness and Efficiency -- A new start after the Astana Summit." Parliament members from 56 participating states of the Organization of Security and Cooperation in Europe, representatives of many associated countries and international organizations attend the summit.
The 20th Annual Session of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly is traditionally held in the form of general plenary sessions and in three general committees: on Political Affairs and Security; on Economic Affairs, Science, Technology and Environment; on Democracy, Human Rights and Humanitarian Questions.
O.Bilorus, Head of the Verkhovna Rada Standing Delegation, delivered a speech at the session of the OSCE PA Standing Committee. He called for uniting efforts and holding negotiations to ensure effectiveness and efficiency of the inter-parliamentary organization.
O.Bilorus focused on the supplementing item of "Belarus" draft resolution initiated by the deputy of the German Parliament. He deems necessary to refuse from ‘double standards with regard to Belarus´, and called on the parliaments and governments of the OSCE member states to negotiate on the gradual settlement of issues concerning democratization of Belarus as an integral part of the European community.
Member of the Ukrainian parliamentary delegation Serhii Shevchuk reported at the session of the General Committee on Economic Affairs, Science, Technology and Environment. The topic of the report was "Strengthening the OSCE's Effectiveness and Efficiency -- A new start after the Astana Summit."
S.Shevchuk informed the delegates about the basic points of his report, and presented the draft resolution. The reporter stressed that the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly calls on the government to consider economic and environmental areas of OSCE´s activity against the backdrop of the global financial crisis and natural calamities as one of the most prospective long-term interests of the participating states. He also declared that OSCE PA recommends the participating states to boost formation of open integrated markets in the OSCE region on the basis of common or unified rules to support economic cooperation and integration in the OSCE region; to invest in environmentally-friendly sectors and develop energy-saving technologies; to suggest new reasonable green methods of economic activity.
The delegates submitted several amendments to the resolution to reinforce particular items of the final document.
Committee members and Committee Chairman R.Blum highly appreciated the report of S.Shevchuk and the draft resolution.