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The work of the meeting of the Bureau of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) concluded yesterday in Copenhagen.
In the context of a discussion on the future of the OSCE CSO amidst the growing geopolitical tensions affecting it, Ms Irene Charalambidou, Vice-President of the OSCE CSO, stressed the need for the Assembly to address the current conflict in the Middle East. She underlined that the risk of a wider conflagration, the serious economic consequences, particularly due to the activities of the Houthi rebels and the subsequent turbulence in world trade, the increase in migratory flows, the strengthening of anti-Semitism and Islamophobia, which are consequences of this crisis, have a significant impact on stability in the Mediterranean region and the wider OSCE area. Therefore, the Assembly must take concrete initiatives and actions in this direction, Ms Charalambidou argued.
Referring to the issue of whether participating States that violate the principles and values of the Helsinki Final Act should be excluded from the OSCE CS, Ms Charalambidou stressed the importance of preserving the Assembly's function as a platform for dialogue, even between opposing parties to conflicts raging in the OSCE region, in order to provide an opportunity for communication and the exercise of parliamentary diplomacy.
In the context of discussing draft Resolutions of the three General Committees of the Assembly, Ms Charalambidou suggested the need to include references to the urgent need to protect civilians by all parties involved in the Middle East conflict. She stressed in this context the importance of relevant actions to alleviate the dire humanitarian situation, including the Cypriot "Amalthea" initiative.
Furthermore, Ms Charalambidou supported the importance of including reports encouraging the resumption of negotiations to find a solution to the Cyprus problem, in line with the relevant UN Security Council resolutions.
In addition, the Vice-President of the Assembly proposed the inclusion of reports on the need to re-establish a binding nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament regime, the alarming rise of the far-right in Europe and the way it affects in particular youth, as well as on the under-representation of women within the OSCE JC and in political life in general.
Finally, Ms Charalambidou asked for details on issues concerning the financial management of the Assembly, while an amendment to the Assembly's Rules of Procedure was discussed, which extends the term of office of the President from one to two years, in order to ensure that the President is able to implement a coherent programme of actions.
(Text as sent by the House of Representatives)
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