OSCE/ODIHR Director congratulates Ilkka Kanerva on election as President of OSCE Parliamentary Assembly

WARSAW, 2 July 2014 – Michael Georg Link, Director of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR), today congratulated Finnish Member of Parliament Ilkka Kanerva on his election as President of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly (OSCE PA).

“Finland has demonstrated a strong commitment to the OSCE and its principles from the beginning of the Organization’s history – almost 40 years ago in Helsinki – and Ilkka Kanerva’s efforts in the Parliamentary Assembly have provided a fine example of that commitment,” Link said. “I look forward to working with him to further strengthen the co-operation between ODIHR and the Assembly, and to establishing further ways we can work together to promote democracy, rule of law, human rights and tolerance and non-discrimination in the OSCE area.”

Kanerva, who has served as Vice-President of the OSCE PA since 2013, was elected President in a vote on the final day of the Assembly’s 2014 Annual Session in Baku. The longest-standing member of his national parliament, he also currently heads Finland’s delegations to both the OSCE and NATO Parliamentary Assembly.

“Mr. Kanerva’s extensive experience will be a great asset to the OSCE PA, as well as to ODIHR in our joint activities,” Link said.