The work of the 22nd Winter Meeting of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE PA) began today.
In the framework of a session of the General Committee on Political and Security Affairs, Ms Irene Charalambidou, Vice-President of the Assembly, participated in a discussion on understanding the role, functioning and contribution of the OSCE one year after the start of the war in Ukraine.
Ms Charalambidou expressed her sincere condolences to the victims of the recent deadly earthquakes in Turkey and Syria, in whose memory a one-minute silence was observed.
The Cypriot MP stressed that respect for international law remains the cornerstone of the international order, and that national sovereignty, territorial integrity and non-use of force are core values on which international legitimacy is based. Revisionism cannot be justified under any circumstances and changing borders by force cannot be legitimized, Ms. Charalambidou stressed. A return to respect for international law, she added, is the only possible path and Cyprus always supports dialogue as long as it is guided by these principles.
Referring to the recent suspension by Russia of its participation in the New Start Treaty, Ms Charalambidou expressed concern about the possibility of a generalised military conflict or the use of nuclear weapons and called for a de-escalation of the military confrontation.
Our common commitment to the goal of peace, security and stability, Ms. Charalambidou noted, requires maintaining channels of communication even with the most difficult actors. We must focus on peace and not on the escalation of war, she concluded.
Moreover, Ms. Charalambidou participated yesterday in a closed session of the OSCE CSO Bureau.
(The announcement as sent by the House of Representatives)
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