Report

From 24 to 25 February 2011, five Canadian parliamentarians attended the 10^th Winter Meeting of the Parliamentary Assembly of the OSCE in Vienna, Austria.  The Honourable Senator Consiglio Di Nino led the delegation, which included the Honourable Senator Pierrette Ringuette, Mr. David Tilson, Member of Parliament, Mr. Daniel Petit, Member of Parliament, and the Honourable Dr. Hedy Fry, Member of Parliament.  The delegation was accompanied by Maxime Ricard, Delegation Secretary, and Natalie Mychajlyszyn, Advisor.

OVERVIEW OF THE OSCE

Established in 1975 as the “Conference on Security and Co‑operation in Europe” (CSCE), the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) was given its current name at the Budapest Summit in December 1994.  The OSCE participating countries, currently 56 in number, are “all the European states, the United States and Canada.”^([1])  Eleven other states from the Mediterranean area and Asia joined as observers and are known as “Partners for Cooperation.”  The organization is defined as a primary instrument for early warning, conflict prevention and crisis management.  It is also recognized as a regional arrangement under Chapter VIII of the United Nations Charter, which requires that participating United Nations Member States “make every effort to achieve pacific settlement of local disputes through such regional arrangements or by such regional agencies before referring them to the Security Council.”^([2])  However, the OSCE is not an international organization in the strict sense of international law, in that its resolutions are not legally binding on the signatory countries.

The OSCE’s 2011 budget is €150.8 million, the same amount as the 2010 budget.  Approximately 65% of the OSCE’s budget is dedicated to 20 field missions and other field activities in 18 states.  The OSCE employs approximately 3,450 individuals, the vast majority of whom are assigned to field missions.  One-quarter of the OSCE employees are seconded by the participating countries.

A.  An Inclusive, Global and Cooperative Approach to Security

The OSCE’s unique character derives from its composition, which enables the United States and Canada to participate as full members in an organization that addresses European issues.  The OSCE favours inclusive dialogue over selective admission.  This enables it to keep communication channels open on key security issues between Western democracies and countries with less exemplary democratic records.  It also promotes exchanges between the European Union and Central Asian states (Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan) that are not members of the Council of Europe.  Whereas the foremost goal of the Council of Europe is to promote and defend democratic development and human rights, and to hold member governments accountable for their performance in these areas, the OSCE aims to foster the development of an expansive, conflict-free geographic area – from Vancouver to Vladivostok – regardless of the democratic characteristics of the participating states.

The OSCE’s resolutions and activities stem from a comprehensive understanding of security that extends beyond the political-military model.  In the Charter for European Security, adopted at the November 1999 Istanbul Summit, the heads of state and of government of the participating countries agreed to “address the human, economic, political and military dimensions of security as an integral whole.”^([3])  All forms of peaceful cooperation between the participating countries are considered as having the potential to reduce the risks of conflict in the region.  The OSCE’s cooperative approach is confirmed by the fact that all 56 states have equal status.  Decisions are made by consensus rather than majority vote.^([4])

B.  Operational Capacity

After the end of the Cold War, the OSCE developed its institutions and operational capacities in response to particular and often urgent needs, and not as a long-term strategic plan.  The 1990 Charter of Paris for a New Europe laid the foundations for the OSCE’s institutional framework.

Field activities account for almost 65% of the OSCE budget.  The fact that it has no missions in Western Europe or North America is a point frequently raised by the Commonwealth of Independent States to argue that, although it claims to be cooperative and egalitarian, the OSCE applies a double standard in its relations with the participating countries.  The OSCE’s reply is that its operations stem from commitments made in a consensual manner and at the invitation of the countries themselves.  The six OSCE missions in southeast Europe account for half of the organization’s budget.

The OSCE is led by a rotating “chairman-in-office” selected to serve a one-year term from among the foreign ministers of the participating countries.  As the organization’s senior diplomat, the chairman-in-office is supported by the Secretariat and its secretary general who are based in Vienna.

On 1 January 2011, Lithuania succeeded Kazakhstan as the chair of the organization.  Mr. Audronius Ažubalis, Lithuania’s Foreign Minister, is serving as Chairman-in-Office.  Ireland will succeed Lithuania as chair of the organization on 1 January 2012, followed by Ukraine in 2013. 

France’s Marc Perrin de Brichambaut has served as OSCE Secretary General since June 2005.

C.  The OSCE Parliamentary Assembly

The OSCE Parliamentary Assembly (OSCE PA) is the parliamentary dimension of the OSCE.  It was created by the OSCE (at that time the CSCE) in 1991 following the call set out by the participating States in the 1990 Charter of Paris for a New Europe.  Its primary purpose is to facilitate inter-parliamentary dialogue on issues facing the participating States and to issue recommendations for their own governments, parliaments and citizens concerning the OSCE’s three spheres of action.  Among its objectives are:

·To assess the implementation of OSCE objectives by participating States;

·To discuss subjects addressed during meetings of the OSCE;

·To develop and promote mechanisms for the prevention and resolution of      conflicts;

·To support the strengthening and consolidation of democratic institutions in OSCE participating States; and

·To contribute to the development of OSCE institutional structures and of relations between existing OSCE Institutions.

The OSCE Parliamentary Assembly is organised according to three General Committees representing the three “baskets” of the 1975 Helsinki Final Act and the areas of focus of the OSCE:  the First General Committee on Political Affairs and Security, the Second General Committee on Economic Affairs, Science, Technology and Environment, and the Third General Committee on Democracy, Human Rights and Humanitarian Questions.  Its work is also carried out by way of ad hoc committees, working groups, and special representatives and envoys.  The Parliamentary Assembly also plays a key role in observing elections in the OSCE region and regularly sends parliamentary delegations on field missions.

It is managed by a Bureau and a Standing Committee.  The Bureau comprises a President, nine Vice-Presidents, a Treasurer, the Chair, the Vice-Chair and Rapporteur for each of the three General Committees, and the President Emeritus.  The Bureau is responsible for ensuring that the decisions of the Standing Committee are carried out and takes decisions by majority vote.  The Standing Committee of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly comprises the members of the Bureau and the 56 heads of delegation of the participating states.  The Standing Committee guides the work of the Assembly, approves its budget and appoints the Secretary General.  It uses the “consensus minus one” rule when voting on decisions, except in the case of the appointment of the Secretary General, which is done by a majority vote.  The OSCE Parliamentary Assembly is administratively supported by the Secretary-General and the Secretariat who are located in Copenhagen.  These were established and became operational in January 1993 soon after the creation of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly.

Today the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly comprises more than 300 parliamentarians who are appointed by their respective parliaments.  Observers of the Assembly include parliamentarians from the OSCE’s Mediterranean Partners for Co-operation (Algeria, Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Morocco and Tunisia) and Asian Partners for Cooperation (Japan, Korea, Thailand, Afghanistan and Mongolia), and representatives from other parliamentary assemblies and security organizations, such as NATO.

Since its first Annual Meeting in Budapest in July 1992, members of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly and representatives of the Partners for Co-operation have convened several times a year to carry out the mandate of the Assembly.  The Assembly itself meets in plenary at the Annual Session held in July and hosted by the parliament of a participating State.  The Annual Session is the most important event in the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly calendar where the Assembly debates a number of OSCE matters and resolutions, receives reports, adopts the Session’s declaration, and elects its officers.  At the Fall Meetings in September, also hosted by the parliament of a participating State, the Assembly in plenary holds a conference on a topical issue. 

The General Committees meet at the Annual Session to debate and adopt resolutions, and elect Committee officers; they also convene jointly and separately at the Winter Meeting in February in Vienna, where the OSCE’s headquarters are located, to discuss and debate issues of importance, receive briefings by senior OSCE officials, and hear presentations by the Rapporteurs on their draft resolutions for the upcoming Annual Session. The Bureau meets at the Annual Session as well as in April and December.  The Standing Committee meets at the Annual Session, the Fall Meetings, and at the Winter Meeting. 

The OSCE PA also convenes to discuss more specific topics either on the margins of these regular annual meetings or at other times.  For instance, the Parliamentary Forum on the Mediterranean is held during the Fall Meetings of the OSCE PA, and the Economic Conference is hosted by the parliament of a participating State every second spring.

The OSCE PA is highly active in election monitoring, having observed over one hundred presidential and parliamentary elections in the OSCE region since 1993.  It cooperates with the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, the European Parliament, the NATO Parliamentary Assembly and the OSCE’s Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights in its election observation missions.  Canadian parliamentarians have participated in many of the OSCE PA election observation missions, including most recently the 2009 parliamentary election in Moldova, the 2009 presidential election in Kyrgyzstan, the 2010 presidential election in Ukraine, and the 2010 parliamentary election in Azerbaijan.

The Assembly’s budget covers most of the organizational expenses related to the Annual Session, Winter Meeting, Fall Meetings, Standing Committee and Bureau Meetings, official visits, the election observation programme, as well as the costs of the International Secretariat.  Host parliaments of the Annual Sessions contribute significantly by providing considerable support.  The Secretariat’s office facilities are provided free of charge by the Danish Folketing.  The PA’s budget is approved at the Annual Session; the 2010-11 budget, approved at the 2010 Annual Session, is €2.86 million, the same amount as in the previous year.  In 2010–11 Canada’s budgeted contribution is C$250,155.

Petros Efthymiou (Greece) has been president of the PA since July 2010, succeeding Joao Soares (Portugal).  Spencer Oliver (United States) has served as secretary general since January 1993.  Dr. Hedy Fry (Canada) was appointed by the OSCE PA President in October 2010 as the Special Representative on Gender Issues.

2011 WINTER MEETING OF THE PARLIAMENTARY ASSEMBLY^[5]

For two days from 24 to 25 February 2011, approximately 228 parliamentarians from 53 of the 56 OSCE participating States, together with parliamentarians from several Mediterranean Partners for Cooperation states, met in Vienna, Austria for the 10^th Winter Meeting of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly.  The program comprised a meeting of the Standing Committee, an opening plenary session, separate meetings of the three general committees, a plenary session which featured special debates on each of the Situation in the Arab World and Immigration, Integration and Multi-Ethnic Dialogue, and a closing plenary session.

A. Opening Plenary

At the first joint session of the three General Committees, the OSCE PA heard the following presentations:

- President Efthymiou emphasised the importance of working to ensure that improvements to the OSCE are no longer simply discussed, but move toward implementation.  Steps to be taken include selecting the next Secretary General to be of high calibre and profile.  He noted that four candidates from Austria, Turkey, Portugal and Italy are under consideration.  Additional steps include holding timely debates, such as that on the Situation in the Arab World to be held by the OSCE PA at the Winter Meeting.  In these and other ways, the relevance of the OSCE can be strengthened and its full potential realised.^[6]

- The 2011 OSCE Chairman-in-Office, the Foreign Minister of Lithuania, Mr. Audronius Azubalis, addressed the Parliamentary Assembly for the first time since taking office.  In his remarks, he emphasised the importance of the Helsinki Process in addressing the multitude of issues with which the OSCE is seized.  The priorities of his chairmanship include strengthening the process and moving forward on issues relating to the protection of human rights, the safety of journalists and free and fair elections.  The particular situations of concern include that in Belarus and Albania, as well as the protracted conflicts in the region, transnational security threats, and the recent developments among many of the Mediterranean Partners for Cooperation. He emphasised the important role that parliamentarians in general and the OSCE PA in particular play in promoting peace and stability in the region, a role that was highlighted in the Astana Commemorative Declaration. ^[7]  He also noted that a proposal to renew the term of the current director of the OSCE’s Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights is under consideration.

Activities of the Canadian Delegation:

The Opening Plenary was attended by all members of the Delegation.

B.  General Committee on Political Affairs and Security

Chair: Karl-Georg Wellmann (Germany)

Vice-Chair: Canan Kalsin (Turkey)

Rapporteur: Tonino Picula (Croatia)

The following presentations and reports were made at this Committee meeting:

- The Vice-Chair of the Committee, Ms Kalsin, provided an interim report on the follow-up to the Oslo Declaration.  The report focused on activities undertaken by the OSCE as they pertain to the First Committee resolutions, including those on Kyrgyzstan, future priorities of the OSCE PA, strengthening the 1999 Vienna Regime, the peace process in the Middle East, nuclear security, Moldova, the Guantanamo Bay detention facility, Afghanistan, and the UN Security Council Resolutions on Women, Peace and Security.^[8]

- The Rapporteur of the Committee, Mr. Picula, provided an overview of the report and draft resolution being prepared for the Committee’s next meeting at the upcoming Annual Session in Belgrade.  In keeping with the Annual Session’s theme of “Strengthening the OSCE’s Effectiveness and Efficiency – A New Start After the Astana Summit,” the report and draft resolution will focus on the future of the OSCE in light of unresolved conflicts in the region, the premature closure of missions, and new security threats among other issues.  In his overview, Mr. Picula noted that not all of the issues facing the OSCE can be resolved through structural reforms and that political will must also be generated.

- Ambassador Stefal Skjaldarson, Permanent Representative of Iceland to the OSCE, delivered a presentation on the work of the OSCE’s Forum for Security Cooperation in negotiating and consulting on military security, stability and transparency.  In particular, it is concerned with Confidence- and Security-Building Measures related to the exchange and verification of information on participating States’ armed forces and military activities and which is governed by the 1999 Vienna Document among others.^[9]  He noted that this document has been the focus of recent modernisation efforts in order to bring it in line with discussions undertaken in the Corfu Process.

- The OSCE PA’s Special Representative on Central Asia, Kimmo Kiljunen (Finland), reported on his recent activities as head of the International Independent Commission for Inquiry into the June 2010 interethnic violence in Kyrgyzstan. In particular, he noted that a final report based on field work and over 700 interviews and statements by victims and witnesses is to be released by early March 2011.  He highlighted that the report recommends that accountability and reconciliation are key principles to guide Kyrgyzstan in the aftermath of the violence and in its democratisation.

- President Efthymiou and Mr. Alcee Hastings (U.S.), former OSCE PA president and Chair of the 2005 OSCE PA Colloquium on the Future of the OSCE, made presentations on the challenges and objectives of OSCE reform.  They emphasised the need to have set timeframes for implementing reforms, and initiatives that raise the profile of the OSCE, such as by increased frequency of OSCE references in national parliaments as included in the resolution proposed by Senator Di Nino from Canada and adopted in the Oslo Declaration.  They also noted that the OSCE has not kept up with changes in the world.  The ensuing debate among Assembly members including recommendations regarding fewer supplementary items debated at the Annual Sessions to allow for more in-depth debate of current issues, and amendments to the consensus decision-making process.

Activities of the Canadian Delegation:

- Dr. Hedy Fry responded to the Vice-Chair’s presentation on the follow-up to the Oslo Declaration.  She noted in particular the negative impact on women of on-going conflicts, economically, socially as well as in terms of their health, which impacts on the condition of their families. 

- The meeting of this Committee was held concurrently with that of the General Committee on Economic Affairs, Science, Technology and the Environment. Other members of the delegation attended the other meeting. Dr. Fry attended both.

C.  General Committee on Economic Affairs, Science, Technology and the Environment

Chair: Mr. Roland Blum (France)

Vice-Chair: vacant

Rapporteur: Mr. Serhiy Shevchuk (Ukraine)

Parliamentarians attending the meeting of this Committee heard the following presentations and reports:

- The Rapporteur of the Committee, Mr. Shevchuk, provided an overview of the report and draft resolution being prepared for the Committee’s next meeting at the upcoming Annual Session in Belgrade.  The draft report and resolution will focus on economic and environmental issues related to the strengthening of the OSCE. 

- The Chair of the Committee, Mr. Blum, presented the interim report on the follow-up to the Oslo Declaration.  The interim report focused on activities undertaken by the OSCE as they pertain to the Second Committee resolutions, including those on the Arctic, global energy security, climate change, matching agricultural production with protection of natural ecosystems, migration, cyber crime, and the fulfillment of the Millennium Development Goals.  

- The OSCE PA Special Representative on Human Trafficking Issues, Christopher Smith (USA), and the OSCE Special Representative and Coordinator for Combating Trafficking in Human Beings, Maria G. Giammarinaro, opened discussions on the role of the OSCE in combating trafficking in human beings.^[10]

- Parliamentarians also heard a presentation by the Coordinator of OSCE Economic and Environmental Activities, Mr. Goran Svilanovic.

Activities of the Canadian Delegation:

- This meeting was held concurrently with the meeting of the General Committee on Political Affairs and Security.  As a result, some members of the delegation attended either one or the other;  this meeting was attended by Senator Ringuette, Mr. Tilson, and Mr. Petit.  Dr. Fry attended both.

- In response to the presentation on the interim follow-up report, Mr. Tilson made remarks relating to Canada’s implementation of the Millennium Development Goals.  During the same item on the Committee’s agenda, Mr. Petit spoke about recent Canadian initiatives regarding cyber crime and security. 

- Dr. Fry participated in the discussion about human trafficking.

D.  General Committee on Democracy, Human Rights and Humanitarian Questions

Chair: Ms. Walburga Habsburg-Douglas (Sweden)

Vice-Chair: Mr. Robert Aderholt (USA)

Rapporteur: Mr. Matteo Mecacci (Italy)

Parliamentarians attending the meeting of this Committee heard the following presentations and reports:

- The Rapporteur of the Committee, Mr. Mecacci, provided an overview of the report and draft resolution being prepared for the Committee’s next meeting at the Annual Session in Belgrade.  In the context of the Annual Session’s theme, “Strengthening the OSCE,” the report and draft resolution will focus on continued challenges relating to the protection of human rights, democratic reforms, and recent developments in the region concerning popular uprisings resulting in changes in government.

- The Vice-Chair of the Committee, Mr. Aderholt, provided an interim report on the follow-up to the Oslo Declaration.  The interim report focused on activities undertaken by the OSCE as they pertain to the Third Committee resolutions, including religious freedom, protection of investigative journalists, national minorities, internally displaced persons and refugees, women’s rights and reproductive health, the death penalty, and human trafficking. ^[11]

- The Committee engaged in a substantive discussion about recent developments in Belarus following the December 2010 presidential election and the findings of the international election observation mission in which the OSCE PA participated that the election did not reflect OSCE commitments.  In particular, the vote count was not transparent and most presidential candidates and hundreds of activists, journalists and civil society representatives were detained on election night, with many still in detention by mid-February.  The discussion was informed by presentations by the Chair of the OSCE PA Ad Hoc Working Group on Belarus, Ms Uta Zapf (Germany), the Special Coordinator for the short-term OSCE election observer mission to Belarus, Mr. Tony Lloyd (United Kingdom), the Director of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights, Mr. Janez Lenarcic, and the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Ms Dunja Mijatovic. 

Activities of the Canadian Delegation:

- This Committee meeting was attended by all five members of the Canadian delegation.

- Mr. Tilson made remarks in response to the presentation on the interim follow-up report, specifically concerning recent Canadian initiatives to combat human trafficking. 

- Senator Di Nino made remarks concerning the situation in Belarus and his support for the creation of an independent commission of inquiry.  During the debate on the Rapporteur’s draft report, he noted the timeliness of the themes to be addressed, particularly in light of the recent developments facing many of the OSCE’s Mediterranean Partners for Cooperation.

- Dr. Fry also made remarks in response to the Rapporteur’s presentation, noting that the recent events in the Maghreb echo the popular uprisings and desire for strong democracies and freedoms that many OSCE countries have experienced.

E.  Plenary

The three committees of the Parliamentary Assembly met in plenary to hear the following reports:

- Ambassador Marc Perrin de Brichambaut addressed the Assembly for the last time as Secretary General of the OSCE given that his term ends in June and will not be renewed.  He noted his appreciation for the work and cooperation with the OSCE PA during his time in office and encouraged the Assembly to continue its work on strengthening the OSCE PA.

Activities of the Canadian Delegation:

- Dr. Hedy Fry (Canada) delivered her inaugural report to the Assembly as the OSCE PA Special Representative on Gender Issues.  She described her workplan for the coming months, which includes cooperating with the OSCE’s gender officers and special representative, coordinating the gender lunch at the upcoming Annual Session in Belgrade on a topic that would encourage discussion and study in the months following the meeting, and coordinating an advisory group on gender issues from among the OSCE PA delegations.  She emphasised that a key priority of her activities would be raising awareness of gender-based analysis, which she would apply to supplementary items and draft resolutions of the Annual Sessions.^[12]

F. Special Debate on Immigration, Integration and Multi-Ethnic Dialogue in the OSCE

The Special Debate on this topic was led off by the following addresses:

- The OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities, Kurt Vollebaek, noted that parliamentarians have an important role to play in addressing issues relating to integration and in promoting social cohesion in a manner that balances respect for diversity and human rights.  He summarised the mandate of his office and emphasised that the protection of minority rights is a prerequisite for ensuring the stability and security of countries in the OSCE region and in the world.^[13]

- The OSCE PA Special Representative on Migration, Kathleen Ferrier (Netherlands), reviewed the strategies and policies that can ensure a dignified and decent migration.  These include legislation based on data regarding migration patterns, sensitivity for the gender aspects of migration, and prudent integration policies.  She also highlighted some of the guides developed by the OSCE concerning migration and that can be used by trainers in order to overcome some of the challenges.^[14]

The debate which ensued touched on the various experiences relating to immigration and integration in the OSCE region, including challenges and best practices.

Activities of the Canadian Delegation:

All members of the delegation attended this Special Debate. 

Mr. Tilson participated in the debate, noting in his opening remarks that the topic is of particular interest to him as Chair of the House of Commons Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration.  He noted the programs and services Canada has developed by which to facilitate the integration of immigrants.  He also remarked that globalisation has changed migration patterns, allowing for the creation and maintenance of global networks to benefit countries commercially that were previously unthinkable.

Dr. Fry participated in the debate and emphasised that Canada is a nation that was founded and has been enriched by immigrants from around the world.  At the same time, immigrants integrate into the country’s political, economic and social spheres while being encouraged to keep their languages.  As a result, Canada is linked to many countries around the world, and has become a global nation. 

G. Special Debate on the Situation in the Arab World

This special debate was added to the agenda of the Winter Meeting to accommodate the anticipated high level of interest among parliamentarians in the dramatic developments in the Mediterranean region.  The debate was led by the OSCE PA Special Representative on the Mediterranean Region, Alcee Hastings (USA), who emphasised the inseparability of security and stability in the Euro-Mediterranean region.  He also noted that, in light of statements that elections would be held in some of the countries experiencing these rapid changes, functioning democracies also require respect for the rule of law, free media, and protection of the rights of minorities.^[15] 

The debate which ensued confirmed the role that the OSCE PA and the OSCE can play in consolidating democracy in the region and that efforts in this respect need to be strengthened.  At the closing of the debate President Efthymiou issued a statement which was agreed to by the Assembly, noting that the OSCE PA "expresses its deepest concern for the conflicts and violence in the countries of North Africa and for the unacceptable repression carried out in Libya by Gaddafi’s regime."  "We support the principles of democracy, freedom and human rights in any place," the President said, "as well as the need for a peaceful evolution towards democracy." He further expressed the OSCE PA's readiness to co-operate with the United Nations, the European Union, the Arab League, and all international organizations, "so that effective and proactive measures are adopted in order to stop violence and the massacres of the civil population as well as to share the commitment to helping and supporting the refugees and victims of this crisis."

Activities of the Canadian Delegation :

In her contribution to the debate, Dr. Fry emphasised that the popular uprisings in the Mediterranean region were reminders of those that spread through the OSCE region twenty years ago.  In this respect, important lessons were learned about how to consolidate democracy and about the role that economic development and commercial exchanges play in promoting stability.  She also reminded the Assembly that the latter was a theme often advocated by former Canadian Senator and OSCE PA Vice-President, Jerry Grafstein, as recently as at the OSCE PA Mediterranean Forum in Palermo in October 2010.

H. Standing Committee 

At the meeting of the Standing Committee, the Bureau members and the heads of delegation heard the following presentations:

- In her remarks, the President of the Austrian Nationalrat, Ms. Barbara Prammer, emphasised the important role that parliamentary assemblies play in debating issues and exchanging best practices.  In this respect, she noted that the various parliamentary associations should increase the frequency by which representatives address each other’s meetings.  She also commented on the gender dimensions of many of the issues which the OSCE PA is confronting, including women in conflict and peace settlement, violence against women, and expanding the number of women in OSCE positions.

- President of the OSCE PA, Petros Efthymiou, reported on his activities since the October 2010 Fall Meetings in Palermo.  Notably, he summarised his participation at the Astana Summit in December 2010 and the deliberations that led to the agreement on the Commemorative Declaration, which mentions the important role the OSCE PA plays in promoting democracy and stability in the region.  He also listed his meetings with parliamentary representatives in Turkey, Kyrgyzstan, and Austria, as well as his meeting with the 2011 OSCE Chairman-in-Office. He also noted the statements he issued in response to the decision to close the OSCE office in Minsk, the bomb explosions at Moscow’s Domodedovo airport and the recent violence in Albania.

- Roberto Battelli (Slovenia) presented his Treasurer’s report.  He indicated that the financial year ending 30 September 2010 ended very positively and the OSCE PA remained within budget for the eighteenth year in a row.  At the same time, the OSCE PA was able to maintain a high level of activities notwithstanding that it has among the smallest budgets of parliamentary organizations. He emphasised that the budget and expenditures reflects and complies with the objectives of austerity and accountability, particularly in light of on-going demands on public budgets across the OSCE region.^[16]

- Secretary-General Spencer Oliver presented his report, highlighting the Secretariat’s successful relocation to new accommodations graciously provided by the Danish parliament.  He noted that the OSCE PA remains active and is doing well in terms of advancing its mandate.  He added that the OSCE PA’s ambassador to the OSCE in Vienna, Andreas Nothelle, has been very effective in raising awareness of the Assembly among the governmental delegations and the OSCE Secretariat.  Upcoming activities include finalizing the preparations for the Bureau Meeting in April 2011 in Copenhagen, the 2011 Annual Session in Belgrade, Serbia and the 2011 Fall Meetings in Dubrovnik, Croatia. 

- Tony Lloyd (UK) presented a report on the recent election observation mission to Belarus.  He commented on the many points of concern regarding the conduct of the election, the response undertaken by the government in the aftermath, and the extent to which Belarus still has to go in terms of consolidating democracy and meetings its OSCE commitments.  The Committee discussed the possibility of deploying an OSCE PA good will mission to Belarus in order to ensure that communication and openness in exchanges were still available.

- Wolfgang Grossruck (Austria) presented a report on the recent election observation mission to Azerbaijan.  In his comments, he noted the difficult relationship the OSCE PA delegation had with ODIHR regarding access to information during the mission, and raised his concern that the commitment on ODIHR’s part to respect the 1997 agreement is not consistently exercised.

The Standing Committee also considered eight proposed amendments to the Rules of Procedures that were prepared by the Subcommittee on Rules of Procedure.  Six of them were adopted.  The new rules go into effect 25 March.

Activities of the Canadian Delegation:

Senator Di Nino attended the meeting of the Standing Committee as Head of the Canadian Delegation.  He noted his concern about Mr. Grossruck’s experiences with ODIHR in an election observation mission, which contrasted with his positive experience in Kyrgyzstan in 2009.  He also expressed concern that the OSCE will be hiring a Vienna-based research institute to take the next steps in formulating the post-Astana Action Plan to advance the Corfu Process, an institute which, as reported by Ambassador Nothelle, has made unfavourable remarks about the OSCE PA and its role in election observation missions. 

Senator Di Nino also participated in the discussions surrounding proposed amendments to the Rules of Procedure, in two instances blocking their adoption out of concern that the proposed procedure for renewing the position of the Secretary General did not sufficiently address the problem of the absence of set term limits, and that members of the Assembly would not have equal access to elected positions.

Mr. Petit also attended the Standing Committee meeting.

ADDITIONAL ACTIVITIES OF THE CANADIAN DELEGATION

On arrival in Vienna on Wednesday, 23 February, the delegation met with the Canadian Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the OSCE, Fredericka Gregory; senior military advisor, Lt. Col. Pierre Linteau; Deputy Head of Delegation, Yves Beaulieu;  second secretary OSCE Economic and Environment Dimension, Alexandre-Etienne Michon; counsellor – Political/Economic and Public Affairs (bilateral), Paul Williams, for a briefing session at the Canadian embassy on the main issues in Canada-OSCE relations.  The briefing focused on the Astana Summit as well Canada’s objectives at the summit and its participation, and on Canada-Austria bilateral relations.  It should be noted that members of the parliamentary delegation strongly supported the value of such briefings by the Canadian embassy and should continue to be part of future programs related to the Winter Meeting.

Ambassador Gregory also presented the delegation with the opportunity to meet with Canada’s ambassador to Austria, John Barrett, representatives from the OSCE and its national delegations (Lithuania, Ukraine, Afghanistan, Australia) and Vienna-based research institutions with whom it otherwise would not have had occasion to discuss matters relating to the OSCE and Canada’s activities.  It should also be noted that Ambassador Gregory and members of the staff attended the sessions of the OSCE PA’s winter meeting.

The delegation also had occasion to meet with some of the candidates for the OSCE Secretary General position.

Dr. Fry had meetings with the OSCE Senior Advisor on Gender Issues, Jamila Seftaoui, and the OSCE Special Representative and Coordinator for Combating Trafficking in Human Beings, Maria Grazia Giammarinaro.  She also met with the Serbian delegation with respect to the agenda at the upcoming Annual Session in Belgrade and the gender lunch which she is coordinating.  The OSCE Magazine also interviewed Dr. Fry about her appointment for a special issue commemorating 100 years of International Women’s Day.

Mr. Petit met with four delegations Lithuania, Latvia, the Czech Republic, and Bulgaria, to discuss a letter written by their foreign ministers to the European Union’s Justice Commissioner in support of legislation condemning the denial of crimes undertaken by totalitarian regimes. 

Senator Di Nino and Dr. Fry were both video-interviewed by the OSCE PA’s media relations office to use for promotional purposes.  Senator Di Nino was interviewed about the future of the OSCE PA, the contribution it makes to election observation mission, and the OSCE’s global role.  Dr. Fry was interviewed about her mandate as the Special Representative for Gender Issues and the workplan that she announced during her inaugural speech.

The Winter Meeting of the OSCE PA addressed many topics which resonate with Canadians and which feature prominently in the work of the Parliament of Canada, including immigration and integration, human trafficking, the recent uprisings in North Africa, developments in Belarus among others.  In this respect, the Canadian delegation to the OSCE PA met one of its key objectives in attending these meetings: exchanging views and experiences with parliamentarians from other countries on areas of common interest and concern.  Its participation in each session of the Winter Meeting, including the two Special Debates, as well as Dr. Fry’s role as Special Representative on Gender Issues, also raised Canada’s profile.  Moreover, given the importance of the OSCE and the OSCE PA to Canada’s trans-Atlantic relations, particularly given the role the OSCE is playing in the Corfu Process and post-Astana developments, members of the delegation also enhanced their understanding of the OSCE, its institutions, its activities and priorities in the region, as well as the implications for the future of trans-Atlantic security architecture.

The Canadian delegation distinguished itself with its high quality and frequent participation by all members; this was acknowledged by many other delegations.  The Canadian delegation to the OSCE PA is well-respected by its fellow delegates.

Respectfully submitted,