The President
To:
Heads of OSCE PA Delegations
Members of the OSCE PA Bureau
12 December 2020
Dear Colleagues,
I want to thank President George Tsereteli for his dedication to the OSCE PA and the
OSCE. He has been unstinting in giving time and work to our affairs. Political life is full of
uncertainties, but we can be sure President Tsereteli will very much be missed by our
Assembly.
The Rules determine that I follow him as President, but I know that I shall not be able
to equal his extraordinary commitment.
Although I have not sought the position of President, I am honoured to assume the
office and I will carry out the duties of the President to the best of my ability with the assistance
of colleagues and the International Secretariat.
We do not know when we shall return to normal working, but we must have objectives
for the period up until the assumption of office of a new President in July 2021.
Most important is to ensure that in July 2021, if we are unable to meet in person, we
must have the decisions and technology in place to have remote elections for the President,
Officers, and Committee Officers. I look forward to the Standing Committee approving the
Bureau’s recommendations in the virtual Winter Meeting to ensure this happens.
I will not be a candidate for President at the election, whether in person or remotely. In
July 2021, the Assembly must have a new President and Bureau and I will do my best to hand
over the Assembly in good order and without any commitments, which should rightly belong
to the new President.
In these difficult times before the return to normality, the Bureau may meet with greater
frequency between now and July 2021 so I may have the advice of Colleagues and any political
positions adopted. To keep Delegations informed, additional meetings of the Standing
Committee may be called.
_________________
Tordenskjoldsgade 1, 1055 Copenhagen K., Denmark
Phone: +45 33 37 80 40 - Fax: +45 33 37 80 30 - [email protected] - www.oscepa.org