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Tánaiste visits OSCE Parliamentary Assembly in Copenhagen, reinforces value of parliamentary input to security
COPENHAGEN, 9 March 2012 – The Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Mr. Eamon Gilmore T.D. visited the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly International Secretariat today and expressed his support for parliamentarians being more closely involved in the comprehensive work of the OSCE.
Ireland's Ambassador to Denmark Brendan Scannell accompanied the Tánaiste in his meetings with OSCE PA Secretary General Spencer Oliver and later the full staff of the Secretariat.
The Tánaiste said:
"I am delighted to visit the headquarters of the Parliamentary Assembly in Copenhagen and to meet the staff who have dedicated themselves to the noble goals of the OSCE".
Dublin will host a conference on 27 April dedicated to sustainable peace initiatives, using the Northern Ireland peace process as a case study.
OSCE PA Secretary General Spencer Oliver said:
"As an elected parliamentarian himself, Minister Gilmore has invaluable experience in working with politicians who constitute the very foundation of democratic countries in the OSCE, and he understands the many diverse challenges facing the region today” .
The Assembly expressed its full support for the 2012 Irish Chairmanship agenda at a meeting in Dublin 1 February, when the Tánaiste hosted OSCE PA President Petros Efthymiou, former president Joao Soares, and OSCE PA Secretary General Oliver.
Members of the Parliamentary Assembly have passed several resolutions in the last two years aimed at promoting dialogue to resolve conflicts, increasing the free flow of information online, and combating hate crimes, all chairmanship priorities.