Continued efforts to resolve protracted conflicts needed, OSCE Chairperson says
Baku, July 8 (AZERTAC). The OSCE will continue its work to resolve protracted conflicts, the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, Lithuanian Foreign Minister Audronius Ažubalis, told 300 Parliamentarians from 53 OSCE participating States and four partner countries gathered in Belgrade for the Annual Session of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly.
Speaking at the opening session Ažubalis also underlined the important role Parliamentarians have in helping their countries fulfill their OSCE commitments.
The OSCE will continue these efforts, including confidence-building measures to reduce tensions in and around Nagorno-Karabakh and contribute to positive results, he said.
The new OSCE Secretary General, Lamberto Zannier, also speaking at the meeting, said he would work to maximize the effectiveness and efficiency of the Secretariat, provide strong support to the Chairmanship and make the executive structures more responsive to the needs of the OSCE participating States.
He also called for strengthened co-operation with the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly in addressing high-priority challenges in the OSCE area and beyond.
The theme of the 20th Annual Session of the Parliamentary Assembly is Strengthening the OSCE`s Effectiveness and Efficiency - A new start after the Astana Summit.
The OSCE Parliamentary Assembly is comprised of 320 parliamentarians from 55 countries spanning, Europe, Central Asia and North America. The Assembly provides a forum for parliamentary diplomacy, monitors elections, and strengthens international cooperation to uphold commitments on political, security, economic, environmental and human rights issues.
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