OSCE PA delegation at the United NationsNEW YORK/WASHINGTON D.C., 1 April 2022 – A delegation of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly, comprising President Margareta Cederfelt (Sweden), Vice-President and Special Representative on Mediterranean Affairs, Pascal Allizard (France), Vice-President and Special Representative on Combating Corruption, Irene Charalambides (Cyprus), and Secretary General Roberto Montella, concluded a high-level visit to the United States this week. The delegation held meetings with UN representatives in New York, as well as with members of U.S Congress and representatives of the U.S. National Security Council and U.S. State Department in Washington.
“The OSCE PA highly values the strong and consistent commitment of the U.S. Delegation to the work of the Assembly, including through the work of its members in the Bureau and as Special Representatives,” said President Cederfelt. “In times of crisis, such as the ongoing war against Ukraine, the transatlantic partnership is more important than ever.”
At the United Nations in New York, the delegation met with UN General Assembly President Chef de Cabinet, Ambassador Nagaraj Kakanur, and Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs Rosemary A. DiCarlo. During those meetings, the discussions focused on the importance and added value of co-operation and co-ordination between the OSCE and the United Nations, complementing the common efforts in responding to crises, in particular to the war in Ukraine, but also in the field of Mediterranean affairs and combating corruption. Vice-President Charalambides said that “while the focus of the world is on Ukraine, we cannot turn a blind eye on other conflicts and issues around the globe.”
In Washington, the delegation met with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, discussing the importance of upholding and defending the values and commitments of the Helsinki Final Act, especially when they are challenged by the unprovoked assault of Russia on Ukraine. The delegation also attended a meeting hosted by the Head of the U.S. Delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly Steve Cohen and OSCE PA Special Representative on Anti-Semitism, Racism and Intolerance Ben Cardin, highlighting current developments in the OSCE region and the contribution of the U.S. Delegation to the work of the OSCE PA.
The delegation also participated in a Helsinki Commission hearing entitled “Putin’s War on the Truth: Propaganda and Censorship in Russia.” The hearing included witness testimonies from Voice of America correspondent Fatima Tlis, independent Russian journalist and author Vladimir Kara-Murza, and Peter Pomerantsev, Senior Fellow at the Agora Institute of Johns Hopkins University.
The delegation was also briefed by representatives of the National Security Council on the US Government’s objectives pertaining to the ongoing war in Ukraine. Eric Green, Special Assistant to the President and Senior Director for Russia and Central Asia, underlined that the U.S. continues to vigorously pursue efforts for de-escalation of the conflict.
Visiting the State Department, the delegation had the opportunity to exchange views with Kami Witmer, Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary in the European and Eurasian Affairs Bureau, and Matthew Steinhelfer, Deputy Assistant Secretary, Bureau of Conflict Stabilization Operations. During the meeting, they discussed the engagement of the United States in the work of the OSCE, particularly its contribution to the field missions of the organization.
At the French Embassy, the delegation was received by Philippe Etienne and attended a roundtable with experts on Mediterranean affairs. At the roundtable, Vice-President Allizard stressed that “the U.S. and Europe have a crucial role to play to promote peace and stability across the OSCE area, particularly in the Mediterranean region, together with the Mediterranean Partners.”
