OSCE parliamentarians to gather in Montenegro for debates on Syria, transnational threats and human rights

COPENHAGEN, 3 October 2013 – Nearly 200 parliamentarians from 50 countries have registered for the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly's 2013 Autumn Meeting, to be held in Budva, Montenegro, on 13-15 October, hosted by the Parliament of Montenegro.

Consisting of a Mediterranean Forum, a meeting of the Assembly's Bureau, a meeting of the Standing Committee of heads of delegations and a parliamentary conference, the Autumn Meeting will take place at the Hotel Splendid Conference Center, and is open to the press.

Special debate on Syria

The Mediterranean Forum, scheduled for 13 October, will include a special debate on the situation in Syria. Under the theme "The Mediterranean: A Union of Civilizations," the debate will be moderated by OSCE PA President Ranko Krivokapic, following his opening remarks, and will include the participation of Montenegro's Foreign Minsiter, Igor Luksic.

Transnational threats and human rights

On 14 October, President Krivokapic will open the parliamentary conference on "Addressing Transnational Threats and Protecting Human Rights: The Role of the OSCE," which will include the participation of Alexey Lyzhenkov, Co-ordinator of Activities to Address Transnational Threats at the OSCE Secretariat.

The sessions of the conference will be chaired by OSCE PA Vice-Presidents Alain Neri (MP, France), George Tsereteli (MP, Georgia) and Isabel Pozuelo (MP, Spain). Session three will include an address by the OSCE's new High Commissioner on National Minorities, Astrid Thors.

Background and accreditation

Since 2002, the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly has held an Autumn Meeting to enhance inter-parliamentary dialogue on important topics related to OSCE commitments. Previous Autumn Meetings have been held in Slovenia, Malta, Spain, Greece, Italy, Canada, Croatia and Albania.

Journalists interested in attending the Budva Autumn Meeting should contact Ivana Gardasevic at the Montenegrin Parliament for accreditation. She can be reached at ivana.gardasevic@skupstina.me or +382 69 817 521.

Additional information about the Autumn Meeting – including draft programmes in English, French and Russian – is available here.

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.