COPENHAGEN, 5 September 2011 - OSCE Parliamentary Assembly Vice-President Walburga Habsburg Douglas of Sweden has been appointed to lead the short term OSCE observer mission to the presidential elections in Kyrgyzstan 30 October. Lithuanian Foreign Minister and OSCE Chair-in-Office Audronius Azubalis made the appointment on the recommendation of OSCE PA President Petros Efthymiou, who previously named Habsburg Douglas head of the OSCE PA

COPENHAGEN, 31 August 2011 -- As relief groups pour aid into east Africa amid one of the worst droughts and famines in decades and parliaments throughout the world prepare for their fall sessions to address global economic challenges, a new video calls for legislative action to address rural jobs and food security issues. The video is the first collaborative effort of the Organization for Security and Co-operation Parliamentary Assembly and the

COPENHAGEN, 1 September 2011 - Matteo Mecacci (Italy), chair of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly Committee on Democracy, Human Rights and Humanitarian Questions today called on Belarusian authorities to immediately cease the harassment of human rights activists, including Ales Bialiatski. Bialiatski, president of the Human Rights Centre Viasna, an unregistered NGO working to promote human rights and democracy in Belarus, has been detained by the

COPENHAGEN, 15 August 2011 – OSCE Chair-in-Office and Ireland's Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade Eamon Gilmore has announced four members of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly will serve as the special co-ordinators to lead the short-term OSCE observer missions in Belarus, Georgia, Ukraine, and United States. Gilmore appointed the individuals on the nomination of President Riccardo Migliori, who has called for his colleagues in

COPENHAGEN, 11 August 2011, OSCE PA President Petros Efthymiou today expressed concern over the detention of former Ukrainian Prime Minister Yuliya Tymoshenko, who is on trial in Kyiv on abuse of office charges. “I, along with the rest of the international community, am following this trial very closely and I would like to underline the need for fair, transparent and independent legal processes to avoid any perception of a policy of selective

COPENHAGEN, 23 July 2011 - OSCE Parliamentary Assembly President Petros Efthymiou today expressed his condolences to the Norwegian people after yesterday's deadly attacks killing dozens in Oslo and Utoeya island. "I extend our condolences and deepest sympathy to the Norwegian people following yesterday's violent attacks. These tragic attacks, apparently targeted at the government and at young politicians, strike at the very heart of OSCE