OSCE PA President Ilkka Kanerva.COPENHAGEN, 2 September 2014 – OSCE Parliamentary Assembly President Ilkka Kanerva (MP, Finland) and Secretary General Spencer Oliver will visit Moscow from 4 to 5 September for meetings with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, Federation Council Chairperson Valentina Matvienko and State Duma Chairperson Sergey Naryshkin.

The situation in Ukraine, Russia's commitment to OSCE principles, the mediation role of the OSCE PA and the future of the OSCE in light of the crisis will be among the topics of discussion.

"I will reiterate that the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly is committed to doing its part in efforts to mediate the crisis. Our aim is that Russia will demonstrate genuine commitment to de-escalation and respect for its neighbor's sovereignty," Kanerva said.

President Kanerva and Secretary General Oliver are scheduled to meet Foreign Minister Lavrov and Federation Council Chairperson Matvienko on 4 September, followed by a meeting with State Duma Chairperson Naryshkin on 5 September.

Secretary General Oliver will also meet with the leadership of the Russian International Affairs Council (RIAC) ahead of the upcoming OSCE PA Helsinki +40 seminar, to be held in Moscow on 25 September. The event will be the first in a series of seminars designed to consider reform of the OSCE as the organization prepares to mark its 40th anniversary. For more information, click here.

Ilkka Kanerva was elected President of the OSCE PA at the 2014 Annual Session in Baku. A former OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, he has been a member of the Finnish Parliament since 1975 and has also served as his country's foreign minister.