In Luxembourg, OSCE PA President and Secretary General sign agreement for 2019 Annual Session, hold high-level meetings

LUXEMBOURG CITY, 26 March 2019 – OSCE PA President George Tsereteli (MP, Georgia) and Secretary General Roberto Montella are visiting the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg to finalize with the Chamber of Deputies the agreement to hold the Parliamentary Assembly’s 28th Annual Session in Luxembourg City.

The PA delegation met with Grand Duke Henri, members of Standing Committee of the Chamber of Deputies, the Delegation of Luxembourg to the OSCE PA led by Eugene Berger, and the Committee on Foreign and European Affairs, Cooperation, Immigration and Asylum chaired by Marc Angel.

“Luxembourg hosting our Annual Session is another demonstration of the valuable contribution of small and large countries alike when it comes to Europe’s security and stability,” said President Tsereteli. “I appreciate the full commitment of the authorities in Luxembourg for the successful organization of this event.”

Meetings were held today with Foreign Minister Jean Asselborn and members of the Consultative Human Rights Commission of Luxembourg.

Topics of discussion included major international issues, particularly the crisis in and around Ukraine, protracted conflicts, the situation in Georgia, human rights, OSCE PA activities, and the future co-operation between Luxembourg and the PA.

Meeting with Prime Minister Xavier Bettel and Speaker Fernand Etgen, Tsereteli and Montella voiced appreciation for Luxembourg’s steadfast support to the OSCE.

At the Standing Committee, the PA delegation discussed priorities on security issues in the OSCE region. Luxembourg was praised for its model of consensus-based parliamentary democracy and high standards of human rights.

The OSCE PA’s Annual Session will be held this year under the theme “Advancing Sustainable Development to Promote Security: The Role of Parliaments.” The event will bring together some 300 parliamentarians from North America, Europe and Asia at the European Convention Center Luxembourg on 4-8 July.

It will culminate in the adoption of the Luxembourg Declaration, which will contain recommendations to national governments, parliaments, and the international community in the fields of political affairs, security, economics, environment and human rights.