OSCE PA President meets UN Secretary-General in New York to discuss increased co-operation

COPENHAGEN, 28 November 2013 – OSCE Parliamentary Assembly President Ranko Krivokapic met with United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon at UN Headquarters in New York on 27 November for wide-ranging discussions, including on prospects for increased co-operation between the bodies.

Krivokapic stressed the benefits that increased OSCE PA involvement can bring to bear on the UN's work, particularly on international efforts to resolve protracted conflicts. He highlighted the leadership of the OSCE PA's 12 Special Representatives, including Joao Soares, Special Representative on the South Caucasus, whose work complements the OSCE Minsk Group's efforts on conflict resolution in the region.

Ban commended the efforts of the OSCE PA to promote democratic standards among the OSCE's 57 participating states as well as free, fair, and transparent elections.

He also underlined the importance of sustained engagement by OSCE parliamentarians in identifying and achieving the goals of the UN's Post-2015 Development Agenda. The Agenda is intended to set development priorities for the UN following the 2015 deadline for progress on its Millennium Development Goals.

OSCE PA Secretary General Spencer Oliver, who accompanied Mr. Krivokapic in New York, said: "Secretary-General Ban was aware of the value of parliamentary involvement in international affairs at every level and expressed his gratitude for the OSCE PA's work to foster dialogue among its elected politicians and for its work in the field on election observations."

Krivokapic, who is also the President of the Parliament of Montenegro, exchanged views with Mr. Ban on recent developments in the Western Balkans, including the ongoing dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina.

Krivokapic's meeting with Ban followed a meeting with UN General Assembly President John Ashe earlier in the day on 27 November.

This is a press release issued by the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly. The views expressed in this press release do not necessarily reflect those of the OSCE Chairmanship, nor of all OSCE participating States.

The OSCE Parliamentary Assembly is comprised of 323 parliamentarians from 57 countries spanning, Europe, Central Asia and North America. The Assembly provides a forum for parliamentary diplomacy, monitors elections, and strengthens international cooperation to uphold commitments on political, security, economic, environmental and human rights issues.