OSCE PA President urges zero impunity for violations in Ukraine; meets Turchynov, Brasseur at Oslo conference

COPENHAGEN, 12 September 2014 – OSCE Parliamentary Assembly President Ilkka Kanerva (MP, Finland) has called for a zero impunity policy when OSCE principles are violated in the Ukrainian conflict during an address at the European Conference of Presidents of Parliament in Oslo.
 
The OSCE PA president also held several bilateral meetings, including with Ukrainian Parliament Chairman Oleksandr Turchynov and Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) President Anne Brasseur, on the sidelines of the two-day event.
 
“In recent years we have been reminded that there has been too much democratic backsliding on our continent and in recent months we have witnessed flagrant violations of sovereignty and growing threats to security even right here in Europe,” Kanerva said in his 11 September speech before nearly 60 heads of parliament.
 
The OSCE PA President went on to call for zero impunity in the face of such violations, pointing to Russia’s actions in the Ukrainian crisis.
 
“Russia must respect its neighbor’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, as it has committed to do as an OSCE founding member and signatory of the 1975 Helsinki Final Act. These commitments have been commonly agreed to by all OSCE participating States. Therefore, impunity cannot be tolerated. The violations undermine the basis of trust that should be the guiding force of international relations in the 21st century,” Kanerva said.
 
Russia’s commitment to OSCE principles, he noted, is a prerequisite for OSCE PA-facilitated dialogue on the crisis to have value.
 
The OSCE PA is currently working to convene an Interparliamentary Liaison Group on Ukraine, which aims to bring together parliamentarians from the Russian and Ukrainian sides, as well as a number of parliamentarians from other OSCE participating States, to promote dialogue and de-escalation of the conflict.
 
In his address, President Kanerva also reported on his meetings with high-level Russian officials in Moscow last week. He further underscored the continuing importance of co-operation between the OSCE PA and the PACE, which hosted the event along with the Norwegian Parliament.  
 
For the President’s full speech, click here. 
 
On 11 September, President Kanerva and OSCE PA Secretary General Spencer Oliver met bilaterally with Ukrainian Parliament Chairman Oleksandr Turchynov for wide-ranging discussions. Topics included the President’s recent visit to Moscow; the status of the ceasefire; the security situation in and around Mariupol, Ukraine; the need to secure Ukraine’s borders; plans for the Interparliamentary Liaison Group; and the OSCE PA’s mission to monitor the country’s parliamentary elections next month.
 
“I assured Mr. Turchynov of the OSCE PA’s determination to help promote a diplomatic solution to the conflict, as well as of our full support for Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity in the face of continuing threats. That support includes monitoring the election and holding Russia publicly accountable for its impact on the crisis,” Kanerva said after the meeting.
 
President Kanerva and Secretary General Oliver met with PACE President Anne Brasseur on 12 September. The sides discussed the importance of close co-operation between the two Assemblies; recent meetings with the Russian leadership; efforts to mediate the crisis in Ukraine; and plans for monitoring the country’s upcoming elections.
 
The OSCE PA President also held bilateral meetings with Danish Parliament Chairman Mogens Lykketoft and Russian State Duma Deputy Chairman Ivan Melnikov while in Oslo.
 
For photos, click here.