President Pia Kauma, seated next to Secretary General Roberto Montella, addresses the Permanent Council, Vienna, 30 January 2025 (Photo: Micky Kroll / OSCE)VIENNA, 30 January 2025 – OSCE Parliamentary Assembly President Pia Kauma (Finland) spoke today at the OSCE Permanent Council in Vienna, sharing with the ambassadors of the OSCE’s 57 participating States a parliamentary perspective on the work of the Organization and highlighting areas of common interest with the Finnish Chairpersonship.
With the upcoming 50th anniversary of the Helsinki Final Act later this year, President Kauma underscored the need to uphold and advance the OSCE’s enduring principles and commitments. This, she said, is particularly important in the face of the Russian Federation’s ongoing war of aggression against Ukraine, which is the most flagrant – but not the only – example of non-compliance with international rules and commitments.
She pointed out that at last year’s Annual Session in Bucharest, the PA voiced profound concern over the erosion of trust in multilateral institutions, which she said has not only weakened the OSCE’s ability to address regional security challenges but has also intensified competition. Kauma noted that this is seen even in regions like the Arctic, which was once considered a model of dialogue and co-operation, but is now marked by increased geostrategic competition, as seen in the renewed interest in Greenland.
“Reversing this trend and reaffirming the core values of the Helsinki Final Act must therefore be a collective priority for every participating State – both in the East and the West,” Kauma said. “These principles must be upheld across the entire OSCE region, without exception. Paying lip service is no longer enough—we must actively defend the principles of self-determination, territorial integrity, and the broader foundation of our security architecture.”
She also pointed out that while there are renewed hopes for a settlement of the war in Ukraine, it is important to ensure that any such resolution must involve Ukraine at its core. The OSCE must also maintain its relevance by contributing to the process in order to support a just and sustainable peace.
Noting the rare opportunity presented by the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office and the OSCE PA President hailing from the same country, President Kauma pointed to areas in which Finland’s and the Assembly’s priorities intersect and committed to actively supporting these objectives. “Over the next six months and before I leave the presidency of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly, I will make the most of our special relationship to deliver meaningful results for the people we serve,” she said.
President Kauma highlighted last week’s OSCE PA Bureau meeting in Helsinki, where Chairperson-in-Office Elina Valtonen spoke and reiterated a willingness to engage in fostering synergy across the Organization to ensure a cohesive approach to addressing common challenges.
While in Vienna, President Kauma has met with OSCE Secretary General Feridun Sinirlioğlu, Chairperson of the Permanent Council Vasa Häkkinen, and Turkish Ambassador Zeynep Kiziltan. Accompanied by OSCE PA Secretary General Roberto Montella, President Kauma has shared news about the PA’s activities, including next month’s Winter Meeting in Vienna, and upcoming visits to Türkiye, Ukraine, and the Middle East. Discussion has also focused on developing areas of co-operation between the PA and the OSCE’s executive structures.
Photos of President Kauma's visit to Vienna are available for public use on Flickr.
For her full remarks to the Permanent Council, please click here.
