The Secretary General
To:
Members of the OSCE PA Standing Committee
Copenhagen, 27 March 2020
Dear Members of the Standing Committee,
It is my pleasure to inform you that our Bureau held an informal videoconference meeting last
Wednesday to discuss how the COVID-19 pandemic is affecting the Assembly and its planned
activities, especially Statutory Meetings, and how we can meaningfully respond to it and its
challenges by leveraging on our key assets. In this regard, the International Secretariat has drafted a
Non-Paper (attached to this letter) with potential ideas, which we are planning to consolidate in the
coming weeks in an
OSCE PA/COVID Compact.
Please feel free to provide us with your comments
or any additional suggestions.
Given that Wednesday’s informal meeting proved as an efficient tool to share ideas and
stimulate debate within an non-official setting, and that we consider it crucial to keep channels of
communication open during this challenging period, we anticipate to hold another informal leadership
meeting in two
weeks’ time,
on Wednesday 8 April.
My colleagues in the International Secretariat and I will continue to duly inform you on any
updates regarding the feasibility of our planned activities against the backdrop of the continuously
evolving situation, which we are closely monitoring in coordination with the OSCE executive
structures and other partner international organizations.
Moreover, please note that in the light of the current COVID-19 pandemic and in accordance
with recommendations issued and measures implemented by our host countries, I have further
extended the temporary closure of the OSCE PA International Secretariat Headquarters in
Copenhagen and the OSCE PA Vienna Liaison Office until 13 April 2020 included. All staff will
continue to regularly telecommute from home and ensure the needed business continuity to our work.
Finally, I want to thank you all for your steady support and flexibility throughout this difficult
time, which is allowing us to carry out our work to the best of our abilities, despite the obstacles we
are currently facing. I wish you and your families to stay safe and in good health.
Yours sincerely,
Roberto Montella
Secretary General
_________________
Tordenskjoldsgade 1, 1055 Copenhagen K., Denmark
Phone: +45 33 37 80 40 - Fax: +45 33 37 80 30 - [email protected] - www.oscepa.org