Monday, 1 July 2013, Istanbul
DELEGATION OF THE ASSEMBLY OF THE REPUBLIC OF MACEDONIA AT THE 22ND ANNUAL SESSION OF THE OSCE PA
The Delegation of the Assembly of the Republic of Macedonia to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE PA), composed of Dr. Ana Pavlovska Daneva - Head of Delegation, and Mr. Xhevat Ademi - deputy member of the Delegation, is participating at the 22nd Annual Session of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly in Europe that is being held in Istanbul, Turkey, from 29 June to 3 July 2013.
More than 250 parliamentarians from the 55 member-parliaments are participating at the Annual Session that is being held under the theme “Helsinki +40”. During the inaugural plenary session, the President of the OSCE PA Mr. Wolfgang Grossruck, the Speaker of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey Mr. Cemil Çiçek, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Mr. Leonid Kozhara, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkey Mr. Ahmet Davutoğlu, and the OSCE Secretary General Mr. Lamberto Zannier addressed the participants.
President Grossruck urged the members of the OSCE PA to be more involved in the activities of the OSCE in order for the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly to play a strong role in the international community. Mr. Çiçek spoke about the need to fight racism and xenophobia in Europe and about the humanitarian crisis in Syria.
The Head of the Turkish Delegation to the OSCE PA Mr. Emin Onen read the message from the Prime Minister of Turkey Mr. Recep Tayyip Erdoğan in which he points out that the OSCE PA has a leading role in the Organization. The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Mr. Leonid Kozhara, who is also the OSCE Chairperson in-Office, informed about the priorities of the Ukrainian Chairmanship of the OSCE and answered questions from the parliamentarians. He emphasized the commitment of the Ukrainian Chairmanship for close cooperation with the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly aimed at strengthening of the joint priorities.
Speaking about the approaching 40th anniversary of the Helsinki Final Act, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkey Mr. Ahmet Davutoğlu said that we need such a Helsinki initiative in the Middle East and North Africa. The OSCE Secretary General Mr. Lamberto Zannier emphasized the need for intensification of the inter-parliamentary and inter-governmental cooperation and for strengthening of the cooperation between OSCE and other international organizations.
Speaking at the meeting of the General Committee on Democracy, Human Rights and Humanitarian Questions, the Head of the Macedonian Delegation Dr. Ana Pavlovska Daneva expressed hope that, with the approaching of the 40th anniversary of the Helsinki Final Act, the “Helsinki +40” process will restore mutual trust and foster help in overcoming the differences among the OSCE countries.
Dr. Ana Pavlovska Daneva informed her colleagues about the events in the Assembly of the Republic of Macedonia on 24 December 2012 that, according to her, was a violation of the constitutional order and the principles of rule of law and democracy. She also expressed hope that the inquiry committee will conclude its work by the end of July and that its conclusions will be the basis for normalization of the political dialogue in Macedonia and encouragement for continuation of the euro-integration processes the country. She also called on the OSCE participating States to honour the commitments regarding respect of human rights, fundamental freedoms, democracy and the rule of law.
The OSCE Parliamentary Assembly is the parliamentary dimension of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe composed of 323 parliamentarians from the 57 participating States from 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.