OSCE, Alm.del - 2022-23 (2. samling) - Bilag 22: Report from Special Representative Ambassador Panceski

OSCEs Parlamentariske Forsamling 2022-23 (2. samling)
OSCE Alm.del Bilag 22
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Special Representative

TO:

OSCE PA BUREAU

THROUGH: OSCE PA SECRETARY GENERAL

MONTHLY REPORT for FEBRUARY 2023

The Reinforced Permanent Council meeting, marking one year since the beginning of the

Russian Federation’s war against Ukraine and the OSCE PA Winter Meeting on 23-24

February were in the focus of the OSCE in Vienna in February. Main developments can be

summarized in thematic order, as follows:

As the City of Vienna has removed the last

COVID-19

precautionary measures from

01 March, it is expected that the Chairmanship-in-Office would soon follow suit and

end the limit to the number of physical participants in meetings (currently 1+1),

allowing for the usual working conditions in Hofburg.

The

Reinforced PC meeting,

held on 24 February to mark one year since the beginning

of the Russian Federation’s war against Ukraine, has heard 54 statements (43

ministerial; 4 from partner countries), majority of which were online. As expected,

speakers condemned the breaches of the international law as well as the OSCE

principles and commitments by the Russian Federation, whose statement caused

another walkout by most delegations. After the meeting, the OSCE Troika (CiO

Osmani, Polish FM Rau, Finnish FM Haavisto) and OSCE SG Schmid, PA President

Cederfelt and PA SG Montella made a joint statement demanding protection for the

people in Ukraine and Russia to end its war.

While the work under “no business as usual” conditions continue, Chairs of the Security

Committee (Romanian Ambassador Stoian); the Economic and Environmental

Committee (Austrian Ambassador Raunig); and the Human Dimension Committee

(Irish Ambassador Callan) presented their plans of work and current activities to the

Permanent Council.

UNCHR Assistant High Commissioner for Protection Gillian

Triggs addressed another PC. SG Schmid’s presented her report on the environment

and the OSCE. Besides the RF war against Ukraine, the issue of the Lachin Corridor

was considered at every regular PC meeting in February, causing heavy exchanges

between Armenia and Azerbaijan.

After preceding tensions (inter

alia:

visas for RF and BLR delegates; calls for

postponement/relocation; boycott by UKR and LIT; reception in the vicinity and

controversial ball in the building; demonstrations) endangered holding of the

Winter

Meeting,

the meeting itself was not as hectic as initially expected, with very good

participation of the MPs (52 participating States, 247 MPs, close to 500 participants).

Many thanks to Austria and Conference Services for exemplary cooperation and

support. Due to the extraordinary circumstances, CiO Osmani has addressed the WM

through a prerecorded video message; D/OSG Fratini has delivered the statement on

behalf of SG Schmid; ODIHR Director Mecacci participated remotely; RFoM Ribeiro

participated through a prerecorded video message and HCNM Abdrakhmanov in

person.

_________________

OSCE PA Headquarters

Tordenskjoldsgade 1, 1055 Copenhagen K., Denmark

Website:

www.oscepa.org

Vienna Office

Neutorgasse 12/12-13, 1010 Vienna, Austria

E-Mail:

[email protected]

OSCE, Alm.del - 2022-23 (2. samling) - Bilag 22: Report from Special Representative Ambassador Panceski - OSCE PA Vienna Office

All discussions at the WM reflected very much those from the governmental side,

resulting in a strong condemnation of RF war against Ukraine. The walkouts during the

RF and BLR statements were orderly and included most delegates, while those

remaining used the opportunity to waive the flags in support of UKR.

Several former local

members

of the

SMM

continue to be

detained

by the RF (and

tried by the Russian-controlled “courts” in Donbas) contrary to their functional

immunity, and despite protests of the Secretariat and the vast majority of Delegations.

The issue of

OSCE vehicles,

confiscated by Russian authorities for alleged “judicial

investigation”, continues to cause concern. Secretariat’s requests for access to their

assets have been denied.

Opposing sides (RF/BLR and the EU) remain deadlocked regarding the Estonian

application for the

2024 Chairmanship.

In the meantime, there’s an emerging

understanding that the decision on 2024 Chairmanship needs to be made soon, to allow

the incoming Chair to properly prepare. Still no progress on the

2023 Unified Budget.

The RF, dissatisfied with nexus between the environment and security (which is

welcomed by others), continues to refuse to join consensus on the Draft

Decision on

Economic and Environmental Forum,

scheduled for 20-21 February. At the same

time, it is also unclear when the Conference on Environment and Security, envisaged

by the Stockholm MC 2021 decision and postponed by the Secretariat from 17 March,

might take place.

During the month, CiO

Osmani

has presented

North Macedonia’s

Chairmanship

priorities to top EU and NATO officials in Brussels; visited Moldova where he met

with the Country’s leadership and the OSCE Mission to Moldova; together with the

OSCE SG Schmid visited Türkiye and expressed support to the victims of the

devastating earthquake; again with the SG Schmid, participated in UN meetings

marking one year since the beginning of the RF invasion on Ukraine in NY; and

presented its priorities to the US Helsinki Commission.

Forum for Security Cooperation

(FSC) agenda under the Chairmanship of

Bosnia&Herzegovina,

discussions on the Code of Conduct as well as on the mine

action in the framework of the Security Dialogue, attracted attention of the participating

States. Bosnia and Herzegovina will be succeeded by Bulgaria in the second trimester.

The

political dialogue

meetings of the Vienna Office with the North Macedonia’s

Chairmanship continue on a bi-weekly basis providing the opportunity for exchange of

information on the planned and recent activities.

Vienna, 06 March 2023

Sincerely,

Miodrag Pančeski

Ambassador, Special Representative