Security forces, border co-operation, media freedom also on the agenda in Vienna COPENHAGEN, 13 February 2013 – More than 240 parliamentarians from 50 countries will gather in Vienna for the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly’s Winter Meeting 21-22 February. In a special debate on 22 February the parliamentarians will examine how OSCE countries should respond to crises in Syria, the Sahel and North Africa. The debate follows up on OSCE PA initiatives

Matteo Mecacci participates in the OSCE internet freedom conference in Vienna. VIENNA,15 February 2013 – Several representatives of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly participated in the OSCE internet freedom conference in Vienna on 14-15 February. Matteo Mecacci (Italy), Chair of the Committee on Democracy, Human Rights and Humanitarian Questions, Margareta Cederfelt (Sweden), Roel Deseyn (Belgium), Linda Kristiansen (Denmark) as well as OSCE PA

New facts and figures included in the OSCE PA Special Report COPENHAGEN, 12 February 2013 – OSCE PA Secretary General Spencer Oliver today issued an updated report on the humanitarian crisis in Syria and its impact on the OSCE region. The report is published in advance of a special debate to be held on the topic at the OSCE PA’s Winter Meeting in Vienna on 22 February. Following an initial release in November, information has been updated in

COPENHAGEN, 6 February 2013 – OSCE PA President Riccardo Migliori (Italy) released the following statement after the death of Chokri Belaid, the Secretary General of the Tunisian Democratic Patriots Party, who was shot outside his home in Tunisia’s capital today: “The OSCE PA expresses condolences to Mr. Belaid’s family and to the people of Tunisia. Political parties representing a plurality of views are essential to democracy. Chokri Belaid

Iryna Sabashuk and Tina Schoen leave the CEC in Yerevan following a meeting with the Head of the External Relations Department. YEREVAN, 31 January 2013 – OSCE PA Deputy Secretary General Tina Schoen and Operations Officer Iryna Sabashuk visited Yerevan on 29-30 January, in preparation for the upcoming OSCE PA election observation mission to the 18 February presidential election in Armenia. Schoen and Sabashuk met with the Secretary General and

President Riccardo and Head of Turkey’s OSCE PA Delegation Emin Onen on the Turkish-Syrian border in November. COPENHAGEN, 31 January 2013 – The theme of the OSCE PA Winter Meeting’s Special Debate, to be held on the afternoon of 22 February, is "How OSCE countries should respond to crises in Syria, the Sahel and North Africa." The theme takes into account strong parliamentary interest in the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Syria, as well as