Delegates registering at the Grimaldi Forum in Monaco for the 21st Annual Session.MONACO, 4 July 2012 – More than 250 parliamentarians from 54 OSCE participating States are starting to arrive in Monaco for the 21st Annual Session of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly.
The Grimaldi Forum has been transformed into a centre for international legislative debate where lawmakers from Europe, Asia and North America will convene to debate major human rights issues, security concerns, and the best path out of the global economic crisis: austerity or stimulus.
Members will debate and vote on 30 resolutions focusing on:
- economic recovery,
- Iran's nuclear programme,
- democracy in the Arab World,
- military co-operation, and
- human rights, specifically in Belarus, Russia and Ukraine.
All committee reports and resolutions are available here. The five-day meeting will also include a Mediterranean Forum on Friday with participation from OSCE partners Algeria, Israel and Morocco as well as guests from Libya and the Palestinian National Council, invited by host officials.
"To support democracy throughout our region, these types of meetings are critical," said Speaker Jean-Francois Robillon (Monaco), host of the meeting. "We look forward to hosting such a diverse group of leaders to discuss today's top policy questions in Monaco this July."
The session will conclude 9 July with the election of officers and the adoption of the Monaco Declaration, which helps shape OSCE and national policy.
"Debate in parliament is the proper forum for the people's voice to be heard and reflected in economic policy," said Assembly Secretary General Spencer Oliver. "Challenges facing the Eurozone impact all our nations, which is why the OSCE with its Asian and North American members is well positioned to host this debate."
