COPENHAGEN, 17 June 2013 (RUS | FRE | TR) – A parliamentarian from Azerbaijan has called for OSCE countries to show more openness and greater engagement with civil society in a resolution now pending before the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly.

"Civil society always brings added value to the debate," said Azay Guliyev (Azerbaijan), author of the resolution. "Non-governmental organizations (NGOs) should not only be observers but active voices included in the decision-making process."

The resolution calls upon the participating States to further engage in dialogue with non-governmental organizations and other active civil society institutions.

It also calls upon OSCE participating States to "ease restrictions on access to information resources" by NGOs and other civil society institutions and encourages states to ensure "the sustainability of NGO activities". The measure also encourages governments to ensure there is transparency about the financial resources of NGOs.

The resolution is co-sponsored by 56 parliamentarians from 21 countries.

Members of the Parliamentary Assembly will debate, consider amendments and vote upon the measure at the Annual Session starting 29 June in Istanbul when parliamentarians from across the OSCE's 57 countries gather for the Assembly's biggest meeting of the year. Resolutions adopted at the Annual Session along with the Istanbul Declaration help to shape OSCE and national policy.

The Annual Session, including committee debates and votes, are open to the press and public. Further information on the Annual Session is available here.

Azerbaijan is slated to host the 2014 Annual Session in Baku.

The OSCE Parliamentary Assembly is comprised of 323 parliamentarians from 57 countries spanning, Europe, Central Asia and North America. The Assembly provides a forum for parliamentary diplomacy, monitors elections, and strengthens international co-operation to uphold commitments on political, security, economic, environmental and human rights issues.