Nilza Sena. Roza Aknazarova and Roger Williams . ISTANBUL, 1 July 2013 - The Second General Committee on Economic Affairs, Science, Technology and Environment Monday elected its new committee leadership, promoting Roza Aknazarova (Kyrgyzstan) to the position of chair. She had previously served as vice-chair of the committee and acted as chair during the current Annual Session. Aknazarova has been an increasinly active voice in the Assembly

The General Committee on Democracy, Human Rights and Humanitarian Questions. ISTANBUL, 1 July 2013 – The OSCE Parliamentary Assembly Committee on Democracy, Human Rights and Humanitarian Questions today passed a resolution calling for government action to uphold freedom of expression, whether it is on the streets or on the Internet. The resolution also "strongly urges" governments to respect the rule of law and judicial independence, and to

Committee Rapporteur Doris Barnett presents her report and resolution. ISTANBUL, 1 July 2013 – The OSCE Parliamentary Assembly’s economic and environmental committee adopted a resolution today at its Istanbul Annual Session calling for binding limits on greenhouse gas emissions, new fees to make short-term stock speculation more expensive, and the utilization of green growth initiatives as an alternative to economic austerity. The resolution

Members vote on an amendment to the 2nd Commitee resolution. ISTANBUL, 1 July 2013 - In the first full day of committee activity, rapporteurs delivered reports covering the three OSCE dimensions of security and presented their resolutions for debate. With more than 100 amendments pending in the three general committees, the members have full agendas to finalize resolution texts before moving on to supplementary items. First Committee Chair Asa

Amb. Sergey Kapinos meets with Special Rep. for Central Asia Thierry Mariani and Special Rep. for Afghanistan Michel Voisin. ISTANBUL, 30 June 2013 - OSCE PA Special Representative for Central Asia Thierry Mariani (France) met today with the Head of the OSCE Centre in Bishkek Ambassador Sergey Kapinos on the margins of the PA's Annual Session. Amb. Kapinos briefed Mariani on the current situation in Kyrgyzstan and on the latest OSCE initiatives

Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu addresses Istanbul Annual Session. ISTANBUL, 29 June 2013 – OSCE PA President Wolfgang Grossruck opened the 22nd Annual Session of the OSCE PA in Istanbul Saturday with a call for a stronger parliamentary commitment to the OSCE. "As members of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly, we must commit ourselves to greater involvement in the activities of the OSCE throughout the year," he said. "The OSCE Parliamentary