OSCE parliamentarians to gather in Montenegro for debates on Syria and transnational threats
Nearly 200 parliamentarians from 50 countries have registered for the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly’s 2013 Fall Meetings, to be held in Budva, Montenegro, on 13-15 October, hosted by the Parliament of Montenegro.
Consisting of a Mediterranean Forum, a meeting of the Assembly's Bureau, a meeting of the Standing Committee of heads of delegations and a parliamentary conference, the Fall Meetings will take place at the Hotel Splendid Conference Center, and are open to the press.
Special debate on Syria
The Mediterranean Forum, scheduled for 13 October, will include a special debate on the situation in Syria. Under the theme "The Mediterranean: A Union of Civilizations," the debate will be moderated by OSCE PA President and Speaker of the Montenegrin Parliament Ranko Krivokapic, following his opening remarks, and will include the participation of Montenegro's Foreign Minsiter, Igor Luksic.
Transnational threats and human rights
On 14 October, President Krivokapic will open the parliamentary conference on “Addressing Transnational Threats and Protecting Human Rights: The Role of the OSCE,” which will include the participation of Alexey Lyzhenkov, Co-ordinator of Activities to Address Transnational Threats at the OSCE Secretariat.
The sessions of the conference will be chaired by OSCE PA Vice-Presidents Alain Neri (MP, France), George Tsereteli (MP, Georgia) and Isabel Pozuelo (MP, Spain). Session three will include an address by the OSCE’s new High Commissioner on National Minorities, Astrid Thors.
Background and accreditation
Since 2002, the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly has held a set of Fall Meetings to enhance inter-parliamentary dialogue on important topics related to OSCE commitments. Previous Fall Meetings have been held in Slovenia, Malta, Spain, Greece, Italy, Canada, Croatia and Albania.
Journalists interested in attending the Budva Fall Meetings should contact Ivana Gardasevic at the Montenegrin Parliament for accreditation. She can be reached at [email protected] or +382 69 817 521.