XII Winter Meeting of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly is in progress currently, and representatives of 57 member states are discussing issues in the fields of democracy, human rights and security.

In his introductory speech, President of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly Mr Ranko Krivokapić emphasised the challenges that have laid ahead of the OSCE as important, which was also indicated by the agenda of the Meeting and topics that the parliamentarians would deal with during the following two days. “Our organisation must strengthen and intensify the efforts on promoting its fundamental values in order to provide efficiency and relevancy of the OSCE within international frameworks“

On the occasion, Mr Krivkapić said that in the time overwhelmed with specific challenges, expectations from the OSCE increased, and those could be only met by full devotion and constant strengthening of internal capacities.

Mr Krivokašić particularly pointed out the distinction which brings together 57 countries. “The diversity that characterises the OSCE is the strength of our organisation, but that strength is also in our resolute willingness to overcome the existing differences through mutual understanding and respect”, President of the OSCE PA said.

He said that in occurrences that were to happen in the 21^st century, parliamentarians should have a special responsibility, with the role of the strongest promoters of values to fight prejudices that existed in the present, hence strengthening integration mechanisms within the OSCE region.

At the margins of the OSCE Meeting, President Krivokapić met President of the National Council of Austria Ms Barbara Prammer and OSCE Secretary GeneralMr Lamberto Zannier. During the meeting, the interlocutors spoke on activities of the OSCE PA following the election of President Krivokapić to the function.

It was jointly stated that the Parliamentary Assembly has intensified its activities in strengthening its own role in the OSCE system as well as its overall efforts to contribute to the reform of the organisation of the Helsinki 40+ process. In that context, the accent was placed on the initiatives of President Krivokapić on undertaking and implementing the actual activities with the aim of defining the position of the PA within OSCE reforms.  

President Krivokapić had a joint meeting with heads of committees of the Standing Council and OSCE PA, during which it was talked on strengthening cooperation between parliamentary and executive OSCE dimension.

At the margins of the meeting, President Krivokapić met representatives of delegations of Serbia, Switzerland, Azerbaijan, Belarus and Mongolia to the OSCE PA.