Headed by the First Deputy Chairman of the Committee on Fuel and Energy Complex, Nuclear Policy and Nuclear Safety and Chairman of the Standing Delegation of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine in OSCE PA Oleh Zarubinskyi, people’s deputies of Ukraine O.Bondarenko, O.Kaletnyk, Yu.Mykhalchyshyn and O.Stoian enter into the composition of Ukrainian delegation.
323 parliamentarians from 57 OSCE participating states and representatives from many associated countries and international organizations participated in the XXII Annual Session of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly dedicated to the topic “Helsinki +40.”
The Speakers of the Grand National Assembly of the Republic of Turkey Cemil Cicek, the OSCE's Chairperson-in-Office, the Minister of Foreign Affairs Leonid Kozhara and the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Turkey Ahmet Davutoglu addressed the participants of forum with complimentary speeches.
The Speakers of the Grand National Assembly of the Republic of Turkey called the OSCE participating states to combat racism and xenophobia – priority tasks for the Parliamentary Assembly and stressed on the cyber security and humanitarian crisis in Syria.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine noted particular topicality of the main topic of the session – “Helsinki +40” and stressed on the necessity to renew “culture of cooperation.” Leonid Kozhara informed participants about the conducted work and achievements of Ukraine’s presidency in implementation of its priorities considering the issues of protracted conflicts, energy security, combating human trafficking and ensuring media freedom in the OSCE region.
In his turn, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Turkey stressed the importance of the anniversary of the Helsinki Final Act for his country, and said that they need Helsinki Initiative in the Middle East and North Africa.
XXII Annual Session of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly will be held traditionally in the form of general plenary sessions, and within three committees: on political issues and security; on economic issues, science, technology and environment, and on democracy, human rights and humanitarian issues.
Participants of the session will vote for the resolutions of three committees and 26 additional items, aimed at upgrading the OSCE, the largest regional security organization in the world, on the eve of the 40th anniversary of the Helsinki Accords of 1975.
XXII Annual Session will end on July 3 with the election of the Assembly officials and the adoption of the Istanbul Declaration, which will promote formation of the OSCE policy and national policy.