OSCE Chairperson-in-Office Lajčák stresses crucial role of parliamentarians at Winter Meeting of OSCE Parliamentary Assembly

VIENNA, 21 February 2019 – At today’s opening of the 18th Winter Meeting of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly, Chairperson-in-Office and Minister for Foreign and European Affairs, Miroslav Lajčák acknowledged the crucial role of parliamentarians in ensuring that the OSCE’s work stays focused on people.

Briefing close to 300 parliamentarians from 54 out of 57 participating States and four out of 11 Partners for Co-operation on the Slovak Chair’s priorities for 2019, he underlined the priority attached to stronger multilateral co-operation. “We need allies; we need complementarity.”

Speaking on the urgent need to address the challenges of today, Minister Lajčák added that “difficult times require creativity and innovative responses. We need new approaches. And the Parliamentary Assembly has proven to be an excellent source of inspiration.”

The OSCE Parliamentary Assembly President George Tsereteli said that “Multilateralism is a crucially important tool in assisting us meet our commitments and enable the next generations to inherit a better world.” He continued that the high-level of participation is “a testament not only to the importance we all give to the OSCE, but also to our collective desire to work together on issues that affect us all.”

Underscoring the need to develop new methods to address ongoing security challenges, the President of the Austrian National Council, Wolfgang Sobotka stressed that “the OSCE is irreplaceable”.

OSCE Secretary General Thomas Greminger said: “The unique potential of the OSCE is made stronger thanks to close co-operation with the Parliamentary Assembly. Just think of the excellent co-operation the Parliamentary Assembly has with the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights, particularly on election observation missions.”

The 323-member Parliamentary Assembly is a platform for discussion among parliamentarians and OSCE delegations on challenges and opportunities related to the OSCE’s approach to comprehensive security. This Winter Meeting of the Assembly has taken place annually since 2002 and allows participants to engage in preparatory discussions ahead of the Annual Session, which is held in the summer.