OSCE, Alm.del - 2022-23 (1. samling) - Bilag 1: Report from Special Representative Ambassador Panceski

OSCEs Parlamentariske Forsamling 2022-23 (1. samling)
OSCE Alm.del Bilag 1
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Special Representative

TO:

OSCE PA BUREAU

THROUGH: OSCE PA SECRETARY GENERAL

MONTHLY REPORT for SEPTEMBER 2022

As in previous months, the war in Ukraine has dominated the OSCE executive structures’

agenda. The main developments on the Governmental side of the OSCE family are presented

in thematic order below:

As was the case before the recess, the

COVID-19 pandemic

continues to impact the

conduct of business, with meetings remaining in hybrid format: with physical

participation (limited to just 1+1 or 1+0 per Delegation, depending on the room) and

online.

While the

Permanent Council

meetings continue to be dominated by the Russian

invasion of Ukraine, extensive discussions were held recently on armed clashes along

the border between Azerbaijan and Armenia, as well as those between Tajikistan and

Kyrgyzstan. During the summer recess in August, 6 months since the start of the

invasion was commemorated at two

Special PC

meetings.

The incoming CiO Osmani presented the

North Macedonian 2023 Chairmanship

priorities

on 01 September, announcing the

focus to be on making a difference on the

ground, implementing the commitments made by all participating States, and rebuilding

stability by restoring dialogue.

The Personal Representatives of the OSCE CiO on Combating

Anti-Semitism,

Combating Intolerance and Discrimination against

Muslims,

and on Combating

Racism, Xenophobia and Discrimination, also focusing on Intolerance and

Discrimination against

Christians

and Members of Other Religions; and the report

under the

Moscow Mechanism

invoked by 38 OSCE participating States in relation to

particularly serious threats to the fulfilment of the provisions of the OSCE Human

Dimension by the Russian Federation, were presented to the PC in September.

Additionally, one

reinforced PC

meeting with (online) participation of representatives

from capitals was held to discuss illegal attempts to legalize the occupation of the

eastern Ukraine (through annexation of parts of its territories), with in-person

participation of the First Deputy Foreign Minister of Ukraine Emine Dzhaparova.

The

OSCE Economic and Environmental Forum,

the main conference in the

second dimension, was held in Prague from 08-09 September. The PA was represented

through the participation of Vice-President Pons.

Since consensus on holding the Human Dimension Implementation Meeting could not

be reached for the third year in a row, Poland is organizing the

Warsaw Human Rights

Conference

as Chairmanship event, from 26 September to 07 October – the period

normally belonging to the HDIM. The official RF Delegation is not participating due

to the alleged failure of the organizer to provide security. However, several Russian

civil societies have confirmed their attendance. The PA is planning a round table on

"Parliamentary

partnership with civil society for human rights"

for 05 October.

_________________

OSCE PA Headquarters

Tordenskjoldsgade 1, 1055 Copenhagen K., Denmark

Phone: +45 33 37 80 40 - Fax: +45 33 37 80 30

Website:

www.oscepa.org

Vienna Office

Neutorgasse 12/12-13, 1010 Vienna, Austria

Phone: +43 1 523 3002 – Fax: +43 1 5222684

E-Mail:

[email protected]

OSCE, Alm.del - 2022-23 (1. samling) - Bilag 1: Report from Special Representative Ambassador Panceski - OSCE PA Vienna Office

There is no progress in the process of the

2022 Unified Budget

adoption, with a few

delegations unable to join the consensus on the latest draft. The Polish Chairmanship is

still addressing the issue. However, according to the interpretation of the Secretariat, if

the UB 2022 is not adopted by the end of the year, the Governmental side of the OSCE

can continue to operate on the monthly allotments from the 2021 UB. This is far from

optimal, bearing in mind the inflation and other issues negatively impacting the budget

and the programmatic activities. North Macedonia, as the incoming OSCE Chair, took

over the Chairmanship of the Administrative Committee on Management and Finance

(ACMF) on 30 September.

As this year’s Chair of the Mediterranean Group, North Macedonia is organizing a

Mediterranean Conference

in Jordan on 24-25 October: for the first

time since 2015,

and the Serbian/German Chairmanship, the Mediterranean conference is held in one of

the Partner Countries. This is a good first sign for the successful Chairmanship.

There has been no progress on the

2024 Chairmanship.

The application of Estonia still

stands, as does the Russian Federation and Belarus’ position against it. Consequently,

the Troika format and composition, consisting of former, current, and the incoming

Chair, will have to be reconsidered.

Given the current situation in the Organization, the Polish Chairmanship does not plan

to propose any substantive draft decisions/declarations for the

MC in Lodz

scheduled

for 01-02 December, as per the decision reached in Stockholm last year. The

distribution of the draft agenda and modalities for the MC are pending. Poland hopes

for the universal participation at the MC.

The ODIHR Director Matteo Mecacci, young diplomats from the OSCE Partner

Countries, and representatives of the alumni of the Program Office in Dushanbe, visited

the Vienna Office in September.

Delegations of participating States are expressing interest for new dates and venue of

the PA Autumn Session (Warsaw, 24-26 November).

Vienna, 03 October 2022

Sincerely,

Miodrag Pančeski

Ambassador, Special Representative