OSCE PA President Kanerva (top left) and OSCE Chairperson-in-Office Dacic (top right) address the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly's Winter Meeting, 19 February. VIENNA, 19 February 2015 – OSCE Chairperson-in-Office and Serbian Foreign Minister Ivica Dacic joined OSCE Parliamentary Assembly President Ilkka Kanerva (MP, Finland) for the opening plenary of the PA's Winter Meeting today, with both stressing that the internationally brokered plan to end

Meeting of the Bureau of the OSCE PA, 18 February VIENNA, 18 February 2015 – The Bureau of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly today unanimously rejected the Russian Federation’s designation of Olga Kovitidi as a Member of the OSCE PA. Ms. Kovitidi was identified by the Russian Federation as a Member of the Federation Council representing the so-called government of Crimea. The Bureau made its decision following an official challenge by the

COPENHAGEN, 16 February 2015 – OSCE Parliamentary Assembly President Ilkka Kanerva (MP, Finland) today urged all sides in the Ukraine conflict to adhere strictly to the ceasefire and expressed deep concern about the continuation of fighting in areas of eastern Ukraine, particularly around the town of Debaltseve. “These early days following the agreement of the ceasefire will be critical as to whether or not it will hold. I welcome the news that

COPENHAGEN, 15 February 2015 – OSCE Parliamentary Assembly Secretary General Spencer Oliver issued the following statement today on the weekend's dual terror attacks in Copenhagen: "I deplore in the strongest terms this weekend's terror attacks in Copenhagen, the home city of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly's International Secretariat. These barbaric and cowardly acts targeted not only a public seminar and a synagogue, but the modern European

OSCE PA President Ilkka Kanerva (right) and Russian State Duma Chairperson Sergey Naryshkin ahead of their meeting in Moscow, 12 February. COPENHAGEN, 12 February 2015 – OSCE Parliamentary Assembly President Ilkka Kanerva (MP, Finland) met today with Russian State Duma Chairperson Sergey Naryshkin in Moscow for talks that focused on Russia’s role in international efforts to resolve the crisis in and around Ukraine. The meeting provided an

COPENHAGEN, 10 February 2015 – OSCE parliamentarians will observe the upcoming parliamentary elections in Tajikistan and provide leadership for the OSCE's short-term observer mission. OSCE Chairperson-in-Office Ivica Dacic has designated Marietta Tidei (MP, Italy) as Special Co-ordinator to lead the short-term OSCE observer mission for the 1 March vote. Geir Joergen Bekkevold (MP, Norway) will serve as Head of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly