Report

From 12 to 14 February 2014, a delegation of five Canadian parliamentarians attended the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly’s Winter Meeting in Vienna, Austria. Mr. Dean Allison, M.P., led the delegation, which included, from the Senate, the Honourable Senators Ghislain Maltais and Paul Massicotte and from the House of Commons, the Honourable Hedy Fry, M.P., Mr. Daryl Kramp, M.P., and Ms. Christine Moore, M.P. The delegation was accompanied by Alexandre Roger, Delegation Secretary, and Erin Shaw, Advisor.

Overview of the OSCE and Its Parliamentary Assembly

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 57 in number, are “all the European states, the United States and Canada.”[1] The OSCE maintains special relations with eleven other states from the Mediterranean area and Asia-Pacific, referred to as “Partners for Cooperation.” The organization is  a primary instrument for early warning, conflict prevention and crisis management. The OSCE is also recognized as a regional arrangement under chapter VIII of the United Nations Charter, which requires that participating UN 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 and its resolutions are not legally binding on the signatory countries.

The OSCE’s 2013 budget was €144,822,600 million, a decrease from the 2012 budget of €3.23 million. In 2013, the OSCE employed approximately 2,570 individuals, the vast majority of whom were assigned to field missions.[3] At the time of the winter meeting, participating states had still not reached agreement regarding the organization’s 2014 budget.

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, Central Asian states (Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan, and Kyrgyzstan) and Mongolia 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. In this context, the OSCE also aims to foster democratic principles in 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.”[4] 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 57 states have equal status. Decisions are made by consensus rather than majority vote.[5]

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.

In 2013, approximately two thirds of the OSCE budget was dedicated to 17 field missions and other field activities in South-Eastern Europe, Eastern Europe, the South Caucasus and Central Asia The six OSCE missions in South-Eastern Europe accounted for approximately half of the organization’s budget.[6] The fact that the OSCE has no field 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 field operations are established at the invitation of the countries themselves and promote commitments made in a consensual manner.

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 2014, Switzerland succeeded Ukraine as the chair of the organization. Mr. Didier Burkhalter, the President of the Swiss Confederation and Head of the Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs, is serving as Chairman-in-Office. Serbia will succeed Switzerland as chair of the organization on 1 January 2015.

Italy’s Lamberto Zannier has served as OSCE Secretary General since 1 July 2011. He succeeded France’s Marc Perrin de Brichambaut who served as OSCE Secretary General from 2005 until 2011.

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 the OSCE and 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 PA 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.[7] 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. 

The Parliamentary Assembly 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 PA comprises the members of the Bureau and the 57 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 Secretary-General and the Secretariat, located in Copenhagen, provide administrative support to the OSCE PA. These administrative support structures were established and became operational in January 1993, soon after the creation of the OSCE PA.

Today, the OSCE PA 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 Co-operation (Japan, Korea, Thailand, Afghanistan, and Australia), and representatives from other parliamentary assemblies and security organizations, such as the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).

Since its first Annual Meeting in Budapest in July 1992, members of the OSCE PA and representatives of the Partners for Co-operation have convened several times a year to carry out the mandate of the Assembly.

The General Committees 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 committee Rapporteurs on their draft resolutions for the upcoming Annual Session.

The Annual Session held in July is hosted by the parliament of a participating State. The Annual Session is the most important event in the OSCE PA calendar. At this meeting, the Assembly debates a number of OSCE matters and resolutions, receives reports, adopts the Session’s declaration, and elects its officers.

At the Autumn Meetings, also hosted by the parliament of a participating State, the Assembly in plenary holds a conference on a topical issue.

The Bureau meets at the Annual Session as well as in April and December. The Standing Committee meets at the Annual Session, the Autumn Meeting, 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 Autumn Meetings of the OSCE PA, and the Economic Conference is hosted by the parliament of a participating State, typically 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 the 2014 presidential and  parliamentary elections in Ukraine, as well as the 2012 parliamentary and the 2010 presidential election in Ukraine, the 2010 parliamentary election in Azerbaijan, the 2009 parliamentary election in Moldova, and the 2009 presidential election in Kyrgyzstan.

The Assembly’s budget covers most of the organizational expenses related to the Annual Session, Winter Meeting, Autumn 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. At the 2013 Annual Session in Istanbul, the Standing Committee unanimously approved a 4.9% increase in the budget, the first budget increase in three years. The 2013–2014 budget, therefore, is €2.996 million. For 2013–2014, Canada’s budgeted contribution is €165,679 (approximately C$227,563).

Mr. Ranko Krivokapic (Montenegro) was elected President of the Assembly at the 2013 Annual Session in Istanbul. President Krivokapic replaced interim President Wolfgang Grossruck (Austria) who had assumed the presidency for four months following former OSCE PA President Riccardo Migliori’s (Italy) defeat in Italy’s most recent elections. Spencer Oliver (United States) has served as secretary general since January 1993. The Hon.  Hedy Fry, M.P. (Canada) was appointed by the OSCE PA President in October 2010 and continues to serve as the Special Representative on Gender Issues.

2014 WINTER MEETING[8]

From 13 to 14 February 2014, nearly 250 parliamentarians from 55 OSCE participating States, together with parliamentarians from four Mediterranean Partners for Cooperation, met in Vienna, Austria for the 13^th OSCE PA Winter Meeting. The program comprised an opening plenary session, meetings of each of the three OSCE PA General Committees (Political Affairs and Security; Economic Affairs, Science, Technology and Environment; and Democracy, Human Rights and Humanitarian Questions). In addition, a meeting of the Standing Committee was held, and the closing plenary session featured a special debate on the situation in Ukraine.

A.   Joint Session of the Three General Committees

The Joint Session of the Three General Committees was opened by OSCE PA President Ranko Krivokapic and Barbara Prammer, President of the Austrian National Council. Mr. Abdul Raouf Ibrahimi, Speaker of the Lower House of the Afghan Parliament, gave a special address, highlighting the remarkable achievements in Afghanistan over the past 12 years and stressing the value that his parliament placed on cooperation with the OSCE.[9] OSCE Secretary General Spencer Oliver also delivered a report to the Assembly, in which he discussed the PA’s recent election observation missions and outlined the PA’s plans to partner with respected think tanks to hold a series of seminars to evaluate the work of the OSCE and to consider future directions for the organization. Through this project, the Secretary-General emphasized, the PA hopes to contribute to the Helsinki +40 Process, which is a process designed to reaffirm the commitments made 1975 in the Helsinki Final Act, to reconfirm OSCE achievements and to equip the organization to meet the challenges of the 21^st Century.[10]

Activities of the Canadian Delegation:

The joint session was attended by all members of the Delegation.

B.   General Committee on Political Affairs and Security

Chair: Makis Voridis (Greece)

Vice-Chair: Azay Guliyev (Azerbaijan)

Rapporteur: Pia Kauma (Finland)

The First General Committee meeting was opened by Chair Makis Voridis of Greece. The Rapporteur of the Committee, Ms. Kauma, provided an overview of the report and draft resolution being prepared for the Committee’s next meeting at the upcoming Annual Session in Baku. In her address, Ms. Kauma raised questions for discussion regarding the need to update the 2011 Vienna Document on Confidence- and Security-Building Measures and develop confidence- and security-building measures to address new threats. She also discussed the need for strong parliamentary oversight of security forces by democratic institutions of governance.[11]

An interim report was also made available by the OSCE PA Secretariat on the follow-up to recommendations made by the First General Committee in the OSCE PA’s Istanbul Declaration, including in respect of the Helsinki +40 Process, the Arms Trade Treaty, nuclear disarmament, the OSCE region’s protracted conflicts, the situation in Central Asia and strengthening engagement with the Mediterranean region.[12]

OSCE parliamentarians also had the opportunity to hear from Ambassador Dominic Schroeder, Chairperson of the Security Committee of the OSCE Permanent Council and Head of the United Kingdom Delegation to the OSCE, who shared the OSCE Security Committee’s plans and priorities for the coming year. Ambassador Schroeder indicated that the committee’s work in 2014 would focus on counter-terrorism, cyber-security, policing – including the prevention of sexual violence against women, border security in Central Asia and counter-narcotics efforts.[13]

The First Committee also held a panel discussion on “Parliamentary Control of Armed and Security Forces: Ensuring Transparency at the National and International Levels,” which included presentations by the following officials:

·         Ambassador Adam Kobieracki, Director of the OSCE Conflict Prevention Centre;

·         Lt. Col. Detlef Hempel, FSC Co-ordinator for the Code of Conduct; and

·         Col. Presenjit Chaudhuri, from the Swiss Armed Forces

These presentations and the debate which followed focused on ways to strengthen the implementation of the OSCE Code of Conduct on Politico-Military Aspects of Security.[14] Speakers provided an overview of the Code’s structure and substance. They also highlighted the OSCE Conflict Prevention Centre’s work promoting the Code, and the ways in which the Code has influenced national implementation and democratic oversight in Switzerland and Germany.

Activities of the Canadian Delegation:

The meeting of the First General Committee was attended by Senator Paul Massicotte and Dr. Hedy Fry, M.P.

Dr. Hedy Fry, M.P. participated in the debate, emphasizing the link between the Code of Conduct and UN Security Council Resolution 1325. She highlighted the need to increase women’s participation in the military and in security forces, as well as the need for gender-sensitive training in such forces. Dr. Fry also stressed that greater participation by and protection for women in military and security forces can facilitate greater contributions by women to post-conflict peace-building and development. To conclude, Dr. Fry argued that OSCE parliamentarians could play a useful role to ensure transparency and accountability in the implementation of Resolution 1325 and the Code of Conduct by their countries’ military and security forces.

The meeting of this Committee was held concurrently with that of the General Committee on Economic Affairs, Science, Technology and the Environment, which was attended by other members of the delegation.

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

Chair: Roza Aknazarova (Kyrgyzstan)

Vice-Chair: Nilza Sena (Portugal)

Rapporteur: Roger Williams (United Kingdom)

The Rapporteur of the Committee, Mr. Williams, provided an overview of the report and draft resolution being prepared for the Committee’s next meeting at the upcoming Annual Session in Baku. In keeping with the Annual Session’s theme of “Helsinki +40: Towards Human Security for All,” the report and draft resolution would focus on addressing the challenges posed by the financial crisis, pollution, climate change, energy, food and water security through international cooperation. The report would consider the OSCE’s role in working with national governments to strengthen the global economy, ways that the OSCE can contribute to sustainable intensification of agriculture and women’s economic empowerment.[15]

An interim report prepared by the OSCE Secretariat on the follow-up to recommendations made by the Second General Committee in the Istanbul Declaration, was also made available.  The report focused on activities undertaken by the OSCE, its institutions and field missions, including in the areas of cybersecurity, border security, migration, climate change, green growth, and combatting corruption.[16]

In addition, the Committee heard presentations from Ambassador Ol'ga Algayerová, Chair of the OSCE Economic and Environmental Committee and Dr. Halil Yurdakul Yigitgüden, Co-ordinator of OSCE Economic and Environmental Activities. Ambassador Algayerová reviewed the OSCE’s recent activities in the second dimension and informed delegates of some of the organization’s priorities for 2014. She also discussed the theme of the 2014 Economic and Environmental Forum: responding to environmental challenges with a view to promoting cooperation and security in the OSCE area.[17] Dr. Yigitgüden discussed the activities planned by his office in 2014, which included publishing a revised version of the OSCE Best Practices in Combatting Corruption, supporting states to develop and implement anti-corruption legislation policies, as well as supporting civil-society participation in decision-making processes related to anti-corruption. He also highlighted his Office’s work on a variety of other topics.[18]

Committee Chair Roza Aknazarova and Dr.Yigitgüden then introduced a special debate on cooperation on water management in the OSCE area.[19] During the debate, parliamentarians highlighted the management of transboundary water resources as a particular concern, and noted the security implications of water management.

Following the each of the presentations by the Committee Rapporteur and the Special Co-ordinator, delegates had the opportunity to ask questions and make suggestions.

Activities of the Canadian Delegation:

The meeting of the Committee on Economic Affairs, Science, Technology and the Environment was attended by Senator Ghislain Maltais, Mr. Dean Allison M.P., Mr. Daryl Kramp, M.P. and Ms. Christine Moore, M.P.

In his remarks, Mr. Daryl Kramp, M.P. stressed the links between security and trade. Welcoming the opportunity to share best practices, he discussed joint Canada-US efforts to allow low risk goods and travelers to cross the border in a timely and cost-effective manner; to ensure that border infrastructure is adequate, adequately staffed and secure; and to share the proper information between the appropriate people in a timely manner. In his remarks, Mr. Kramp also highlighted the main pillars of the Canada-US Beyond the Borders Action Plan: addressing threats early, trade facilitation, economic growth and jobs, cross-border law enforcement, critical infrastructure, and cybersecurity.

Welcoming the opportunity to exchange views on issues such as sustainable development and energy extraction with parliamentary colleagues, Ms. Christine Moore, M.P. noted that new technologies are enabling the extraction of natural resources in non-traditional ways. At the same time, she stressed that these opportunities have brought about unprecedented environmental challenges that require innovative solutions. Ms. Moore asked Dr. Yigitgüden to expand on the work of his office to support countries to achieve greater energy efficiency, as well as to discuss OSCE activities aimed at addressing the economic, social and environmental challenges posed by non-traditional resource extraction.

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

Chair: Isabel Santos (Portugal)

Vice-Chair: Mehmet Sevki Kulkuloglu (Turkey)

Rapporteur: Gordana Comic (Serbia)

The Rapporteur of the Committee, Ms. Comic, provided an overview of the report and draft resolution being prepared for the Committee’s next meeting at the upcoming Annual Session in Baku. The report and draft resolution would focus on the issue of migration and would also discuss OSCE reform, field missions, the role of civil society and strengthening the rule of law.[20]

Presentations were also made by Ambassador Robert Kvile, Chair of the OSCE Human Dimension Committee, by Dunja Mijatović, the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media and by Ambassador Janez Lenarcic, Director of the Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR). Ambassador Kvile discussed the activities of the OSCE Human Dimension Committee over the past year and its priorities for 2014: “freedom of the media, freedom of opinion and expression, freedom of religion or belief and freedom of peaceful assembly and of association.”[21] Other priorities include “tolerance and non-discrimination, national minorities, national human rights institutions, promotion and protection of human rights while countering terrorism, gender equality, death penalty and trafficking.”[22] Ms. Mijatović discussed ways to determine whether legislation dealing with media freedom conforms to OSCE commitments and international human rights law. In this respect, she emphasized the importance of democratic scrutiny, the need for precision and clarity in legislative drafting and the vital importance of avenues for challenge and independent judicial review.[23] Mr. Lenarcic reviewed the ongoing activities of ODIHR and highlighted areas where ODIHR and the OSCE PA could cooperate more closely.

The Committee held a debate on the rule of law in the OSCE region, which was opened with remarks from the Chair of the Committee, Ms. Santos, who highlighted her deep concern regarding the situation of political prisoners in the OSCE space and introduced the debate’s keynote speakers:

·         Mr. Andrei Sannikov from Belarus, a former Belarussian presidential candidate and political prisoner;

·         Mr. Yevgeniy Zhovtis from Kazakhstan, who briefed the Committee on the situation of Vladimir Kozlov and Roza Tuletaeva;

·         Mr. Rashi Hajili from Azerbaijan, legal counsel to Mr. Anar Mammadli who leads an Azeri civil society organization called the Azerbaijan Election Monitoring and Democracy Studies Centre; and

·         Mr. Nurrettin Demir, a Turkish M.P. who has written a report on politically-motivated prosecutions of Turkish politicians.[24]

An interim report on the follow-up to the Third General Committee’s recommendations in the Istanbul Declaration was also made available. The report focused on activities undertaken by the OSCE, its institutions and field presences, as they pertain to the Third Committee’s resolutions.[25]

Activities of the Canadian Delegation:

This Committee meeting was attended by Senator Ghislain Maltais, Senator Paul Massicotte, Mr. Dean Allison, M.P., Dr. Hedy Fry, M.P., Mr. Daryl Kramp, M.P., and Ms. Christine Moore, M.P.

Mr. Dean Allison, M.P. drew delegates’ attention to the PA’s resolution on freedom of religion, thought, conscience and belief as a fundamental human right which was adopted in Istanbul. He asked ODIHR Director Lenarcic to update the Committee on the work that ODIHR is doing to promote the right to freedom of religion and to protect minority religious communities in the OSCE region. Mr. Allison also invited Mr. Lenarcic to comment on ways that parliamentarians could contribute to ODIHR’s efforts.

During the special debate on the rule of law, Dr. Hedy Fry, M.P., emphasized that in any discussion of the “rule of law,” it must be clear that the phrase refers not just to the laws passed by national legislatures. Rather, the rule of law must conform to laws that conform to international democratic principles. As such, the rule of law must be supported by an independent judiciary, access to justice, freedom of the media, and a strong civil society that benefits from freedom of expression and association.

Mr. Daryl Kramp, M.P. discussed the need to combat corruption in order to ensure good governance, the rule of law and prosperity in the OSCE region. He highlighted the Canadian parliament’s role in updating Canada’s money laundering legislation, granting Canadian courts extra-territorial jurisdiction over Canadian nationals and companies that commit acts of corruption abroad, and in passing legislation that will allow Canada to freeze the assets of corrupt foreign officials upon request from a foreign state.

In her remarks, Ms. Christine Moore, M.P. stressed that upholding the rule of law means ensuring human rights for all, regardless of gender, as well as ensuring protection from discrimination. She noted Canadian efforts at the United Nations Human Rights Counsel to combat violence against women. Ms. Moore called on OSCE parliamentarians to lead by example and ensure that women and girls receive equal protection of the law in their national jurisdiction.

E.   Standing Committee

The Standing Committee heard reports by the President of the OSCE PA, Ranko Kriokapic, by the PA’s Treasurer, Mr. Roberto Battelli, and by the PA’s Secretary General, Mr. Spencer Oliver. The Standing Committee was also updated on the PA’s election observation activities, as well as the activities of its Ad Hoc Committees and Special Representatives.

The Standing Committee confirmed the Secretary General’s nomination of Semyon Dzakhaev of Russia as the OSCE PA’s Deputy Secretary General.

Activities of the Canadian Delegation:

Senator Ghislain Maltais attended the meeting of the Standing Committee as Acting Head of the Canadian Delegation. Other Canadian parliamentarians also observed the meeting.

F. Joint Session of the Three Committees and Special Debate on the situation in Ukraine.

The closing joint session was chaired by OSCE PA President Ranko Krivokapic, and consisted of addresses by OSCE Secretary General Lamberto Zannier and Dr. Hedy Fry, M.P., in her capacity as OSCE PA Special Representative on Gender Issues.

Secretary General Zannier’s remarks highlighted the purposes and possibilities of the Helsinki +40 process. He also noted the difficulty that participating states were having in reaching consensus on the adoption of the 2014 unified budget, and the resultant operational difficulties.

The Special Debate on Ukraine, which occurred at the height of the pro-EU protests on Maidan square, was introduced by OSCE PA Vice-President George Tsereteli of Georgia. Delegates from different political parties in Ukraine had the opportunity to give their perspectives on the ongoing protests. Parliamentarians from various OSCE countries expressed a range of views, with many stressing the need to find a peaceful resolution to the situation.

Due to the high-level of interest in the special debate from OSCE parliamentarians, the Secretariat limited the speakers list in order to ensure that at least one speaker from each participating state had the opportunity to make remarks.

Activities of the Canadian Delegation:

In her gender address, Dr. Hedy Fry, M.P. discussed her ideas for her upcoming report to the 2014 Annual Session in Baku, highlighting the 10^th Anniversary of 2004 OSCE Action Plan for the Promotion of Gender Equality.[26] Dr. Fry reviewed the progress made toward gender equality within OSCE structures over the past year. She also discussed the state of women’s political participation in OSCE countries. To effectively promote gender equality at the national level, Dr. Fry stressed the need for measurable goals, data collection and gender-based analysis in decision making processes. Dr. Fry responded to questions from parliamentarians.

All members of the delegation attended the Joint Session and the Special Debate.

As Head of the Canadian Delegation, Mr. Dean Allison, M.P., was given the floor by the Secretariat. In his remarks, Mr. Allison highlighted the importance of the OSCE principles of democracy and respect for human rights, which he said should form the foundation of inclusive dialogue between the government of Ukraine and its people. He noted the two emergency debates held by Canadian parliamentarians on the situation in Ukraine, as well as the unanimous adoption of a motion by Canada’s House of Commons calling on the Ukrainian government to bring to justice those responsible for acts of violence during the protests.

Due to time constraints, Ms. Christine Moore, M.P. did not have an opportunity to intervene in the debate.

Additional Activities of the Canadian Delegation

On arrival in Vienna on Wednesday, 12 February, the delegation met with the Canadian Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the OSCE, Her Excellency Isabelle Poupart, and other members of Canada’s diplomatic delegation to the OSCE for a briefing session on the main issues in Canada-OSCE relations. The briefing focused on Canada’s activities and priorities in each of the three dimensions of the OSCE. Members of the parliamentary delegation greatly appreciated the briefing and strongly supported the value of such briefings by the Canadian embassy. The delegation was of the view that such briefings should continue to be part of future programs related to the Winter Meeting.

Ambassador Isabelle Poupart presented the delegation with the opportunity to meet with senior OSCE officials, including ODHIR Director Lenarcic, the OSCE’s Senior Advisor on Gender Issues, Ambassador Miroslava Beham, Dr. Yigitgüden and other representatives from the OSCE Secretariat, the OSCE PA Secretariat, and members of foreign diplomatic missions to discuss matters relating to the OSCE and Canada’s activities. 

It should also be noted that Ambassador Poupart and members of the mission’s staff also attended the sessions of the OSCE PA’s winter meeting.

Mr. Dean Allison, M.P. and Dr. Hedy Fry, M.P. held separate meetings with Israeli parliamentarians attending the winter meeting to discuss issues of mutual interest.

Members of the Canadian delegation also attended a reception hosted by the Austrian National Parliament, where they had the opportunity to meet with colleagues from other national delegations.