Reception on the occasion of the Annual Meeting of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly

President Burkhalter
Honourable Member of the Swiss Parliament, Mr. Aebi
Distinguished Parliamentarians of the OSCE
Parliamentary Assembly
Ladies and Gentlemen:

It is a real privilege to welcome you to International Geneva and the Palais des Nations, which is at the heart of our collective work here. Thank you to President Burkhalter and our Host Country, Switzerland, for bringing the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly to Geneva.

The vast agenda before your Assembly only highlights the many areas of common interest and shared objectives between the United Nations and the OSCE. I particularly appreciate this opportunity to commend President Burkhalter on his strong leadership as OSCE Chairperson-in-office. His diplomatic and political skills have been instrumental in the OSCE’s response to the situation in Ukraine and his determined efforts there are highly appreciated by all of us. The surge in fighting in recent days and mounting civilian casualties are a cause for deep concern. Mr. President, yesterday, the horror hit us much closer to home. We mourn our colleague from the ICRC. We express our sincere condolences to his family, as we mourn all the victims of the conflict. We thank the OSCE and its Parliamentary Assembly for the commitment to dialogue and a peaceful resolution of the conflict. It is much needed these days!

Our work in International Geneva to promote peace, rights and well-being touches every single person on the planet. It shapes the everyday lives of people in all regions. The OSCE’s comprehensive concept of security, which also integrates economic and human rights dimensions, very much resonates with us.

There is in Geneva a strong tradition for interaction between parliamentarians and international organizations, which I hope will infuse your deliberations. You, as parliamentarians, are critical in connecting our work to your constituents. As parliamentarians, you are multipliers of global messages. We have over the past ten years made much progress in injecting the parliamentary dimension into the work of the United Nations. But I believe that we can do much better in injecting the United Nations into your work and that of parliaments.

Next year, both the United Nations and the OSCE will celebrate important milestones. The United Nations turns 70, while the OSCE can look back at 40 years of work since the Helsinki Final Act. I believe that these anniversaries are opportunities not only to take stock but for looking at how we can strengthen our partnership. Not least when it comes to the interaction with parliamentarians.

Parliaments are the bedrock of thriving democracies. This is true for the OSCE region as for everywhere else. We need parliaments to build a better world for all – and we rely on your support.

Thank you again for being here with us. I wish you a wonderful evening. Thank you very much.