The OSCE Parliamentary Assembly’s 31st Annual Session opened today with speeches reaffirming the need to uphold international commitments by ensuring that the OSCE can deliver effectively on its mandate,
OSCE PA reports.
Speaking at the opening session, President of the Senate of Romania Nicolae-Ionel Ciucă, Head of the Romanian Delegation to the OSCE PA Dan Barna and OSCE PA President Pia Kauma (Finland) recalled the enduring importance of dialogue, co-operation, and reaffirming the OSCE’s shared principles.
Opening the session, President Ciucă noted that the OSCE PA’s work in Bucharest will help advance international security. He focused on the security challenges resulting from the Russian Federation’s war against Ukraine, pointing out that the war has caused a fundamental rupture in the international order and underlining the need to support Ukraine’s ability to defend itself. The OSCE is playing a key role in building security, he said, noting that inaction would have dire long-term consequences. Romania, he said, will remain a partner in the OSCE’s mission, particularly by promoting the rights of minorities.
Barna, who serves as Vice-President of the Chamber of Deputies, said: “As firm supporters of democracy, peace, and stability, we are pleased to host the Annual Session of this prestigious Assembly at the Romanian Parliament, together with the Romanian delegation to the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly. During the OSCE PA session, we continue our efforts to support the Republic of Moldova and Ukraine in the context of Russian aggression, and we will discuss the situation in the Middle East. The OSCE’s work positively impacts the lives of over a billion people, both through political dialogue and practical activities, and I express my appreciation for the OSCE's autonomous institutions for their efforts to promote and protect human rights.”
Barna pointed out that in the coming days, the PA will adopt resolutions and decisions that will uphold common OSCE values, to be included in the Bucharest Declaration that will be voted on 3 July.
Just one year before the 50th anniversary of the OSCE’s founding document, the 1975 Helsinki Final Act, fulfilling the promises of this organization requires increased high-level focus on strengthening the OSCE so that it can respond to challenges from North America to Central Asia, it was underlined. This milestone must be an opportunity to reinvigorate parliamentarians’ commitment to the OSCE’s foundational values, President Kauma said.
