“Precisely that kind of spirit of connecting diverse cultures and ideas reflects the essence and the being of the OSCE itself. Our South-Slavic Nobel Prize winner Mr Ivo Andrić once wrote that out of all things that were the work of human hands, bridges were the most valuable and the most significant.  Therefore our joint results would also be measured through our ability to build bridges – the bridges of inter-governmental, parliamentary and regional cooperation.”

Mr Krivokapić added that it was the obligation of parliamentarians toward the citizens that had delegated them to ensure a strong approach in addressing the transnational threats:

 “And without jeopardising the reached fundamental standards of human rights and fundamental freedoms in the process.  Achieving this fundamental balance in the circumstances of increasing global connection and increasing threats to our common values is no easy challenge. The devastating effects of the modern security threats, that carry a great degree of social danger, could easily result in relativisation of the human rights concept. We must never lose sight of the following: human rights are one of the greatest civilisation achievements of our democracies and they, in their fundamental statement, must in no way be collateral damage, no matter what challenges out societies face”, said Mr Krivokapić.

The Autumn Meetings of the largest parliamentary assembly in the world gathers the representatives of the parliaments of 57 OSCE member states.

The OSCE PA Autumn Meetings, which are being held until 15 October, will be dedicated to the topics such as: the OSCE role in promotion of protection of human rights, terrorism and national threats, security effects of the economic crisis, and integration of diverse societies.