COPENHAGEN, 30 June 2011 – To fight international hunger and malnutrition, parliaments should prioritize policies that strengthen rural communities, according to a resolution now pending before the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe Parliamentary Assembly’s Annual Session.

The resolution introduced by Khachik Harutyunyan (MP, Armenia) calls on parliaments to address social and infrastructure problems in rural areas to secure food production and supply.

“Creating jobs and improving the quality of life in rural areas is essential to ensuring developing nations have enough food available to feed children who too often go without the nutrition needed for their development,” said Harutyunyan. “We know that agriculture training and technology can help make better use of huge areas of under-utilized farm land and thus ease tension in the international food market.”

The resolution, cosponsored by 51 MPs from 18 countries, also calls on developed countries and international financial institutions to target assistance to countries to meet food production goals.

The Committee on Political Affairs and Security has a separate resolution pending that requests parliaments adopt legislation to encourage a more balanced use of land to meet both food and energy demands.

The resolutions will be considered for inclusion in the Assembly’s Belgrade Declaration, which helps shape OSCE and national policy. Parliamentarians from more than 50 participating OSCE countries will vote on the resolution and declaration in Belgrade.

The Belgrade Annual Session, including committee debates and votes, are open to the press and public. The session runs 6-10 July 2011.

The OSCE Parliamentary Assembly is comprised of 320 parliamentarians from 55 countries spanning, Europe, Central Asia and North America. The Assembly provides a forum for parliamentary diplomacy, monitors elections, and strengthens international cooperation to uphold commitments on political, security, economic, environmental and human rights issues.