OSCE Parliamentary Assembly adopts Rotterdam Declaration

ROTTERDAM, 9 July 2003 - At the close of their meetings in Rotterdam from 5 to 9 July 2003, nearly 300 Parliamentarians of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly adopted the Rotterdam Declaration focusing on the political, economic and human rights aspects of the central theme of the Session: "The Role of the OSCE in the New Architecture of Europe". In addition, several other documents were adopted, including resolutions on combating anti-Semitism, prisoners detained at the Guantanamo Base, the International Criminal Court as well as on Belarus and on Moldova.

The Rotterdam Declaration states that the security structure of Europe is undergoing continuous development and that the real strength of the OSCE lies both in its capacity to respond to security threats and challenges, and in its strong field presence. For upholding the credibility of the OSCE, it is imperative to provide the OSCE Field Missions with adequate funding and high quality staff. The Assembly highly recommends that the OSCE Permanent Council be requested to consult the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly prior to making a decision to terminate any OSCE field office. The OSCE PA also recommends fostering the role of the OSCE in unarmed peacekeeping operations, and calls upon all participating States to contribute to the OSCE peacekeeping role by drawing up lists of experienced personnel that it can deploy at short notice.

Regarding the economic aspects of the Annual Session's main theme, the Declaration stresses that the further enhancement of the Economic and Environmental Dimension of the OSCE, as an integral part of its comprehensive security approach, constitutes an essential prerequisite for the OSCE's substantial contribution to the new European Security Architecture. The Assembly appeals to participating States and international organizations to step up their efforts to ensure security, and prevent and reduce environmental pollution.

The Rotterdam Declaration furthermore suggests that the OSCE adopt a more balanced regional approach when promoting the implementation of the participating States' human dimension commitments, and to take into account the differences of each country and region, but not to neglect any of them. In this regard the Declaration suggests that the mandate and resources of the OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities be strengthened. The High Commissioner has to be able to deal with the protection of the new minorities in established democracies in the OSCE and to help them integrate into the societies of their new homelands, while recognizing their right to maintain their own cultural heritage.

The Resolution on Combating Anti-Semitism urges all OSCE participating States to ensure effective law enforcement by local and national authorities against criminal acts stemming from anti-Semitism, xenophobia, or racial or ethnic hatred, whether directed at individuals, communities, or property, including thorough investigation and prosecution of such acts.

The Resolution on the International Criminal Court calls on the OSCE participating States to make their ratifications meaningful through effective national implementation law that enables them to meet their principal obligations under the Rome Statute; that means co-operating with and assisting the ICC, an Organization that is vital to ensuring that the most serious crimes of concern to the international community no longer go unpunished.

The Resolution on prisoners detained at the Guantanamo Base urges the United States immediately to present the prisoners before a "competent tribunal" to have their status determined, to secure the prisoners' rights by letting them be represented by legal counsel of their own choice and to refrain from the use of the death penalty.

The Resolution on Belarus criticizes the social, political and humanitarian situation in Belarus, which has worsened considerably, and declares support for civic and democratic forces in the country.

Regarding Moldova, the OSCE PA appeals to all parties concerned, in particular to the Parliament and Government of Moldova as well as the Supreme Soviet and Authorities in Transdniestria, to continue negotiating in good faith in order to find a solution to the problem of the status of Transdniestria as an integral part of a federal Moldova and in a manner that guarantees Moldova's sovereignty and territorial integrity.

On Combating Trafficking, the Assembly urges all participating States to sign and ratify the Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children, supplementing the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime.

The Assembly also adopted a Resolution on the parliamentary follow-up of OSCE Activities at the National Level. National Parliaments are encouraged to introduce practices whereby annual reports on the activities of the OSCE PA by national OSCE PA delegations are regularly debated in an appropriate manner in the national parliaments.

On the final day of the Annual Session the Assembly re-elected Bruce George, the Chair of the Defence Committee of the House of Commons, as its President for a second one-year term. The Assembly also elected four new Vice Presidents: Nino Burjanadze (Georgia), Giovanni Kessler (Italy), Tone Tingsgaard (Sweden), and Nevzat Yalcintas (Turkey).

The Parliamentary Assembly of the OSCE, created by the CSCE Summit in Paris in 1990, is the parliamentary wing of the 55-nation Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe. The primary task of the 317-member Assembly is to facilitate interparliamentary dialogue, an important aspect of the overall effort to meet the challenges of democracy throughout the OSCE area.