VIENNA, 17 June 2013 – Speaking at the OSCE Security Days event in Vienna today, Vilija Aleknaite Abramikiene (MP, Lithuania), Rapporteur of the OSCE PA's Committee on Political Affairs and Security, highlighted the role of parliamentary diplomacy in contributing to the process of building a security community.

"Through our work in the OSCE PA, parliamentary diplomacy contributes fresh ideas, new insights, and provides a crucial link to the electorate and civil society," she said.

Aleknaite Abramikiene participated in the opening panel of the two-day OSCE Security Days event, entitled "The OSCE in the 21stCentury: Regional Security Organization and Community." It was moderated by Edward Lucas, International Editor of the Economist, and featured former Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation Igor Ivanov, former OSCE Chairperson-in-Office Dora Bakoyannis (MP, Greece), and former Federal Chancellor of Austria Wolfgang Schüssel.

In her opening talk, Aleknaite Abramikiene emphasized the potential of the OSCE's Helsinki +40 process in developing confidence in the OSCE area. "The Helsinki +40 process, initiated at the OSCE Ministerial Council in Dublin, will hopefully help consolidate trust and bridge divergences among participating States," she said. "It gives us another opportunity for renewed dialogue on important aspects of the future of the OSCE."

She further discussed the activities and priorities of the Parliamentary Assembly, particularly the First Committee, in the lead-up to the Istanbul Annual Session.

"At the Annual Session in Istanbul, the OSCE PA will debate arms control, protracted conflicts, and future challenges in light of the forthcoming withdrawal of International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) from Afghanistan in 2014," she said. "I hope that our contribution to the Helsinki +40 dialogue will help find the solution to these issues as only strong and clear commitments can unite all."

Echoing the call of other speakers, she noted that the OSCE must come up with a success story, such as solving a protracted conflict, in order for the Organization to be reinvigorated.

The proceedings of the Security Days are available here.