OSCE Parliamentary Assembly calls on OSCE countries to fulfil international commitments in Kyiv Declaration

KYIV, 9 July 2007 - The OSCE Parliamentary Assembly ended its 16th Annual Session in Kyiv today by adopting a Declaration that expresses regret at the lack of progress in resolving so-called 'frozen conflicts' in the OSCE region and recommends strengthened action in several fields including migration and energy and environmental security.

The Kyiv Declaration, representing the collective voice of OSCE parliamentarians, will be sent to the governments of all 56 OSCE participating States. It is the result of five days of work by the 250 parliamentarians participating in the Annual Session in the Ukrainian capital.

The Declaration expresses support for all efforts to achieve a peaceful settlement of the 'frozen conflicts' in Moldova and Georgia based on the principles of territorial integrity.

Reaffirming the crucial importance of all democratic values, the Declaration calls on Belarus and governments of other OSCE participating States to pursue their international commitments and principles linked to the notion of each being a free and democratic country.

Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko, and the OSCE Chairman-in-Office, Spanish Foreign Minister Miguel Angel Moratinos, addressed the meeting.

The Declaration urges all OSCE participating States to sign and ratify the Energy Charter Treaty and the Kyoto Protocol. It also calls for greater action on migration and against human trafficking, especially children, and for the dismantling of criminal networks which facilitate illegal migration. In addition, it contains provisions on women, peace and security; cluster bombs; environmental security; human rights and intolerance.

The Declaration emphasizes that the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly is the OSCE's most valuable asset in enhancing the credibility of the OSCE's efforts to promote democracy and the establishment and improvement of parliamentary institutions.

It reiterates the relevance of OSCE Electoral Observation Missions and states that parliamentarians contribute a wide range of professional political experience and visibility to these missions.

OSCE Parliamentary Assembly President Goran Lennmarker of Sweden was re-elected unanimously to a second one-year term. The Parliamentary Assembly also elected Anne-Marie Lizin, Belgium; Jerry Grafstein, Canada; Kimmo Kiljunen, Finland; and Panos Kammenos, Greece as Vice Presidents and Hans Raidel, Germany as Treasurer.