The Vice-President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE CSO), Ms Irini Charalambidou, held meetings in Washington yesterday, participating in a delegation of Members of the OSCE CSO Bureau.
In the context of a round table discussion with expert analysts on Mediterranean issues, organized by the Embassy of France in Washington, D.C., Ms. Charalambidou referred to Turkey's destabilizing role in the Mediterranean and its revisionist aspirations, which constantly fuel the region with tension. She referred to the escalation of military tension in the summer of 2020 and the risk of triggering a hot episode. In this context, he expressed thanks for France's overall balancing role in the Mediterranean and its assistance on that occasion. Ms Charalambidou also criticised Turkey's refusal to implement the Readmission Agreement signed with the European Union with regard to Cyprus.
The delegation also met with the Chairman of the US Congressional Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe (Helsinki Commission), Mr Benjamin Cardin, Co-Chairman Mr Steve Cohen and Commission members Mr Joe Wilson, Mr Roger Wicker and Mr Richard Hudson. The meeting discussed the latest developments in the war in Ukraine and the possibilities for further contribution of the OSCE CSO and National Parliaments to a more effective implementation of sanctions. Ms. Charalambidou warned of the risk of uncontrolled escalation and generalized flare-up in case of a positive response to the President of Ukraine's request for control of its airspace by third states, and argued that the OSCE CSO should continue to function as an inclusive platform for dialogue. Regarding Turkey's stance, Ms. Charalambidou pointed out that this country has not aligned itself with the sanctions adopted by the EU as a candidate country, thus allowing it to reap benefits at the expense of states that have done so.
The President of the OSCE CS Ms Cederfelt and the two Vice-Chairs Ms Irini Charalambidou and Mr Pascal Allizard, participated in a meeting of the Helsinki Committee on combating propaganda and disinformation in the context of the Ukrainian crisis. During the meeting, testimonies were given as to the way and means used to carry out disinformation. Ms Charalambidou raised in her question the issue of the role of the technological giants and their potential contribution to combating such phenomena, noting that in some cases they reacted with great delay.
During a working lunch with members of Congress, which was attended by the Speaker of the US House of Representatives Mrs. Nancy Pelosi, Mrs. Charalambidou stressed the importance of fighting corruption to safeguard democratic institutions and procedures and referred to the organization of a conference of the OSCE CSO in Cyprus, next May, on the role of national parliaments in preventing and fighting corruption, in which she invited the US delegation to participate.
(EC)
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