OSCE Parliamentary Assembly Winter Meeting addressed by Austrian President

VIENNA, 22 February 2002 - "I see the holding of the First Winter Meeting in the premises of the OSCE as a further step towards strengthening the Parliamentary dimension of OSCE activities" stated the President of Austria, Dr. Thomas Klestil yesterday in his welcoming speech to the more than 240 parliamentarians attending the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly Winter Meeting in Vienna from 21-22 February 2002.

The opening session on 21 February 2002 was also addressed by the Portuguese Foreign Minister and OSCE Chairman-in-Office Jaime Gama who stated that "...the Portuguese Chairmanship sees the First Winter Meeting as a clear expression of the vitality of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly....enhancing the role of the Parliamentary Assembly is an objective that the Portuguese Chairmanship fully endorses. This is not a bureaucratic aim. On the contrary, and as a founding member of this central Institution, I believe that our goal is to allow the Parliamentary Assembly to perform the ambitious role it has been entrusted with, thus contributing to the development of a pluralistic parliamentary culture in the OSCE area".

During the Winter Meeting the parliamentarians were briefed on current OSCE developments by senior officials from the OSCE Governmental dimension including the OSCE Secretary General. The three General Committees also discussed reports related to the main theme of the upcoming Annual Session in Berlin which will focus on the role of the OSCE in the international fight against terrorism.