OSCE Chairman-in-Office congratulates new President of Parliamentary Assembly on election

SOFIA, 9 July 2004 - The OSCE's Chairman-in-Office, Bulgarian Foreign Minister Solomon Passy, congratulated U.S. Congressman Alcee L. Hastings on Friday on his election as President of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly.

Mr Hastings was elected President for a one-year term at the close of the Parliamentary Assembly's Annual Session in Edinburgh, Scotland.

"As an experienced member of both the Parliamentary Assembly and the U.S. Helsinki Commission, my colleague and friend Alcee Hastings is extremely knowledgeable about the entire OSCE region and about the work of our Organization," the Chairman-in-Office said. "I am delighted to learn of his election and wish him every success in his new post."

Minister Passy said the Parliamentary Assembly had a vital role to play in helping the 55-nation OSCE to tackle contemporary challenges. "As Chairman-in-Office, I look forward to co-operating with President Hastings," he added.