Activities of the BiH PA Permanent Delegation during the 22nd Annual session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE PA)

 
During the five days of the 22nd annual session of the OSCE PA in Istanbul, BiH PA Permanent Delegation members Dragan Čović, Mirza Kušljugić, and Lazar Prodanović, participated in numerous meetings, discussing a wide range of resolutions and issues such as political, security, economy, ecology, human rights, democratic and humanitarian.

At the meeting of the General Board for Political Issues and Security, a resolution seeking to strengthen the transparency of international military arms control agreements was adopted. Moreover, two additional resolutions were adopted on the role of local and regional authorities in post-conflict scenarios, and the broadening of partnerships with those Mediterranean countries that are not members of the OSCE, including the Palestinian national authorities.

The General Committee for Economic Issues, Science, Technology and Environment, adopted a resolution calling for greater international co-operation in resolving ecological and economic challenges. The resolution urges the OSCE to take measures to make economic and ecological dimensions core pillars of the Helsinki 40+ process until 2015, when the 40th anniversary of the adoption of the Helsinki Final Act will be celebrated.

During the session of the General Committee for Democracy, Human Rights and Humanitarian Questions, a resolution calling upon the authorities to respect freedom of expression, rule of law and the independence of the judiciary, enabling visits of international organizations to political prisoners, was adopted. This resolution also calls for the increased participation of civil society, the public, and the media in the OSCE; as well as calling for strengthened governmental resolve in the fight against human trafficking and modern-day slavery, and commitment to abolishing the death penalty.

Over 323 Parliament Representatives from 56 European countries, North America, and Central Asia, participated in the 22nd annual session of the OSCE PA. (end)