Fra: Turner, Fred [mailto:[email protected]]
Sendt: 16. juni 2005 03:37
Til: '[email protected]'
Cc: [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected];
[email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected];
[email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]
Emne: RE: Letter to President Hastings
Suzanne,
Thank you for forwarding the letter from your head of delegation to Mr. Hastings. Since the letter was
circulated to all heads of delegation, as well, we thought it appropriate to copy such individuals on this email
response. President Hastings would be happy to respond more formally to Mr. Fünfschilling should this
response not address the concerns of your delegation.
I discussed the letter with President Hastings this morning and he was confused as to exactly what
"comprehensive information" your delegation is seeking. As you know, the reappointment of the Secretary
General is a straight "up or down" majority vote by the Standing Committee. The Secretary General serves a
5 year renewable term. The incumbent's term runs through 2005, therefore it must be renewed before year's
end. Since we believe that the Annual Session has the highest attendance rates of Members, Mr. Hastings
added it to the agenda. In terms of the ratification of the appointment of the Deputy Secretary General, the
Standing Committee must approve the appointment announced by the Secretary General to the Expanded
Bureau in Copenhangen this past April.
Vice President Kessler of Italy has proposed several changes to the Rules of Procedure specifically as it
relates to the appointment of the Secretary General. In accordance with Rule 44, President Hastings
appointed a sub-committee to examine Mr. Kessler's proposals and make a recommendation to the Standing
Committee. Additionally, as you are also no doubt aware, Vice President Haering of your delegation was
asked to and has accepted to be a member of this sub-committee. All Heads of Delegation received a
memo from Deputy Secretary General Vitaly Evseyev this morning explaining the mandate of the sub-
committee. As the memo pointed out, the sub-committee is scheduled to meet in Washington prior to the
Standing Committee meeting on 1 July so that the members can make their recommendation that morning.
So, with that having been said, Mr. Hastings remains somewhat unclear as to the specific information that is
being requested. I hope the above description of this agenda item clarifies any uncertainty. If, however, it
does not, President Hastings would be more than happy to discuss this further with Mr. Fünfschilling.
Finally, I also note that a short biography about the Secretary General himself appears on the OSCE PA
website. In addition, there are many Reports of the Secretary General to the Standing Committee dating
back to the Paris Annual Session in 2001.
On behalf of the Congressman, I look forward to seeing you and the entire Swiss delegation in Washington
in just a couple of short weeks!
Warmly,
Fred
Fred Turner
Chief of Staff
Congressman Alcee L. Hastings
