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OSCE Parliamentary Assembly to meet in Bucharest, 6-10 July
COPENHAGEN 7 June 2000
COPENHAGEN, 7 June 2000 - From 6 to 10 July 2000 more than three hundred parliamentarians from the 54 OSCE participating states will gather on the premises of the Romanian Parliament in Bucharest for the Ninth Annual Session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the OSCE.
The opening plenary on Thursday, 6 July will be addressed by the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, Austrian Foreign Minister, Ms. Benita Ferrero-Waldner, the President of Romania Mr. Emil Constantinescu and the Romanian Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr. Petre Roman. Delegates will also hear welcoming remarks by the Speaker of the House of Deputies, Mr. Ion Diaconescu and the President of the Senate, Mr. Mircea Ionescu Quintus.
Several senior OSCE Officials, including the High Commissioner on National Minorities, Mr. Max van der Stoel and the Representative on Freedom of the Media, Mr. Freimut Duve will also brief the parliamentarians. The opening plenary will be chaired by the President of the OSCE PA, Ms. Helle Degn MP (Denmark).
During a special ceremony, also on Thursday, 6 July, the OSCE Prize for Journalism and Democracy will be presented to the Russian Reporter Andrei Babitsky. Since 1996 the Prize has been awarded annually by the Assembly to journalists who, through their work, have promoted OSCE principles on human rights and democracy. Andrei Babitsky, reporter for Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, has reported on the conflict in Chechnya with complete disregard for his own safety, and has been one of the very few critical voices commenting on the situation and recent developments in the region.
During the meetings on 7, 8 and 9 July the Assembly´s Committees will consider three reports and draft resolutions. These reports and resolutions deal with different and interrelated aspects - political, economic and human rights - of the central theme of the Ninth Annual Session: " OSCE CHALLENGES IN THE 21ST CENTURY Good Governance: Regional Co-operation, Strengthening Democratic Institutions, Promoting Transparency, Enforcing the Rule of Law and Combating Corruption". Other resolutions on current issues and problems in the OSCE area may also be considered.
On Monday 10 July, the closing Plenary Session will consider the resolutions of the three Committees and adopt a Final Declaration. The Assembly will also elect its President and other Officers.
For further information please contact:
Mr. Jan Jooren, Press Counsellor of the OSCE PA, e-mail [email protected], tel. +45 33 37 80 36, fax. +45 33 37 80 30
The opening plenary on Thursday, 6 July will be addressed by the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, Austrian Foreign Minister, Ms. Benita Ferrero-Waldner, the President of Romania Mr. Emil Constantinescu and the Romanian Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr. Petre Roman. Delegates will also hear welcoming remarks by the Speaker of the House of Deputies, Mr. Ion Diaconescu and the President of the Senate, Mr. Mircea Ionescu Quintus.
Several senior OSCE Officials, including the High Commissioner on National Minorities, Mr. Max van der Stoel and the Representative on Freedom of the Media, Mr. Freimut Duve will also brief the parliamentarians. The opening plenary will be chaired by the President of the OSCE PA, Ms. Helle Degn MP (Denmark).
During a special ceremony, also on Thursday, 6 July, the OSCE Prize for Journalism and Democracy will be presented to the Russian Reporter Andrei Babitsky. Since 1996 the Prize has been awarded annually by the Assembly to journalists who, through their work, have promoted OSCE principles on human rights and democracy. Andrei Babitsky, reporter for Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, has reported on the conflict in Chechnya with complete disregard for his own safety, and has been one of the very few critical voices commenting on the situation and recent developments in the region.
During the meetings on 7, 8 and 9 July the Assembly´s Committees will consider three reports and draft resolutions. These reports and resolutions deal with different and interrelated aspects - political, economic and human rights - of the central theme of the Ninth Annual Session: " OSCE CHALLENGES IN THE 21ST CENTURY Good Governance: Regional Co-operation, Strengthening Democratic Institutions, Promoting Transparency, Enforcing the Rule of Law and Combating Corruption". Other resolutions on current issues and problems in the OSCE area may also be considered.
On Monday 10 July, the closing Plenary Session will consider the resolutions of the three Committees and adopt a Final Declaration. The Assembly will also elect its President and other Officers.
- Requests for accreditation can be forwarded by fax to: Press Department House of Deputies, Parliament House, 2-4 Izvor Street, Bucharest. Tel: + (40 1) 402 14 60; Fax + (40 1) 312 08 27. Contact Persons: Mrs. Nadia Inonescu, Director of the Press Department; Mrs. Ileana Iordache; Mr. Horia Pop
- The Accreditation Office at the premises of the Annual Session will be open on 5 July 2000 from 10.00 a.m. and will work throughout the Session.
- Details about expected press briefings and press conferences by the President of the OSCE PA will be announced as soon as possible
For further information please contact:
Mr. Jan Jooren, Press Counsellor of the OSCE PA, e-mail [email protected], tel. +45 33 37 80 36, fax. +45 33 37 80 30