OSCE Parliamentary Assembly meets in Belgrade

The annual session of the Organization of Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) Parliamentary Assembly (PA) started on Wednesday in Belgrade. Serbian Parliament Speaker Slavica Djukic-Dejanovic and PM Mirko Cvetkovic delivered keynote speeches on the first day of the gathering. OSCE Parliamentary Assembly meets in Belgrade Cvetkovic told the gathering he was convinced the meeting would help achieve better security in OSCE member countries. Cvetkovic stated that Serbia was committed to OSCE principles, values and standards and that he considered the organization as Serbia's strategic partner in facing new threats and challenges. Commenting on Serbia's EU integration, Cvetkovic stressed the OSCE's significance for the Serbian people in terms of economic prosperity and achievement of EU values. "Serbia has made great progress in EU integration, especially in terms of reforms, and it is of utmost importance to us to get the status of a candidate for EU membership and the start date for the accession talks by the end of the year," he remarked. The government is determined to help improve cooperation, renew trust in the region and work to find solutions to open issues, Cvetkovic asserted. Certain problems can be resolved best by taking a regional approach, which is where the OSCE and its missions come in, he believes. Serbia will continue supporting the OSCE in its work and will be even more active in the future, Cvetkovic underlined. A partnership in fighting international terrorism, organized crime and human trafficking is very important, he noted. The prime minister also called for cooperation concerning safe energy and climate change. The session today was named "Strengthening the OSCE's Effectiveness and Efficiency - A new start after the Astana Summit". OSCE Parliamentary Assembly President Petros Eftimiu and Lithuanian Foreign Minister Audronius Azubalis were also expected to speak at the opening of the plenary session. A meeting of the OSCE Permanent Council is also scheduled for day one, along with a news conference by the Serbian parliament speaker and the OSCE PA president, the Serbian parliament said in a release. A debate is also to take place today on the report of OSCE PA Special Representative on Gender Issues Hedy Fry. Serbia's delegation submitted to the OSCE PA a draft resolution on Kosovo organ trafficking, which is to be discussed at the meeting in Belgrade. (Tanjug)

OSCE Parliamentary Assembly meets in Belgrade

Cvetković told the gathering he was convinced the meeting would help achieve better security in OSCE member countries.

Cvetković stated that Serbia was committed to OSCE principles, values and standards and that he considered the organization as Serbia's strategic partner in facing new threats and challenges.

Commenting on Serbia's EU integration, Cvetković stressed the OSCE's significance for the Serbian people in terms of economic prosperity and achievement of EU values.

"Serbia has made great progress in EU integration, especially in terms of reforms, and it is of utmost importance to us to get the status of a candidate for EU membership and the start date for the accession talks by the end of the year," he remarked.

The government is determined to help improve cooperation, renew trust in the region and work to find solutions to open issues, Cvetković asserted.

Certain problems can be resolved best by taking a regional approach, which is where the OSCE and its missions come in, he believes.

Serbia will continue supporting the OSCE in its work and will be even more active in the future, Cvetković underlined.

A partnership in fighting international terrorism, organized crime and human trafficking is very important, he noted. The prime minister also called for cooperation concerning safe energy and climate change.

The session today was named "Strengthening the OSCE's Effectiveness and Efficiency - A new start after the Astana Summit".

OSCE Parliamentary Assembly President Petros Eftimiu and Lithuanian Foreign Minister Audronius Azubalis were also expected to speak at the opening of the plenary session.

A meeting of the OSCE Permanent Council is also scheduled for day one, along with a news conference by the Serbian parliament speaker and the OSCE PA president, the Serbian parliament said in a release.

A debate is also to take place today on the report of OSCE PA Special Representative on Gender Issues Hedy Fry.

Serbia's delegation submitted to the OSCE PA a draft resolution on Kosovo organ trafficking, which is to be discussed at the meeting in Belgrade.