Ground-breaking resolutions on international adoption, Palestinians, audit of OSCE also pass ISTANBUL, 3 July 2013 – After four days of debates, the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly today adopted a sweeping declaration aimed at jumpstarting the 57 member states and the Organization itself into action on comprehensive security commitments, including human rights. “This year, more than ever, this declaration matters because this is the time when our

Makis Voridis, Azay Guliyev and Pia Kauma. ISTANBUL, 2 July 2013 – The OSCE PA Committee on Political Affairs and Security has a trio of new leaders after holding three contested elections this afternoon. Members elected Greek parliamentarian Makis Voridis to chair the committee. Azay Guliyev of Azerbaijan and Pia Kauma of Finland won elections as vice-chair and rapporteur respectively. Voridis has been a Member of Parliament since 2007,

Comic, Santos, Kulkuloglu to lead Third Committee. ISTANBUL, 2 July 2013 – Isabel Santos, former vice-chair of the OSCE PA Committee on Democracy, Human Rights and Humanitarian Questions, has been elected to chair the committee. In the final day of committee business at the Annual Session, parliamentarians elected a new leadership team for the Assembly’s human rights committee, promoting Santos of Portugal to chair, electing Mehmet Sevki

Washington Post 2 July 2013 Kathy Lally MOSCOW — A 57-country conflict-resolution organization on Tuesday urged Russia to allow adoptions to proceed for the 300 U.S. families who had begun the process when a ban was imposed on Americans . 'The Parliamentary Assembly of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, founded during the Cold War to mediate disputes over arms and human rights, avoided singling out Russia by name. But the

Members of the First Committee vote on amendments to the resolution. ISTANBUL, 1 July 2013 – The OSCE Parliamentary Assembly's political and security committee today passed a resolution to increase military transparency and strengthen international agreements on arms control. The resolution calls for parliaments and governments to ratify the Arms Trade Treaty adopted by the United Nations General Assembly, renew negotiations on the Conventional

Nilza Sena. Roza Aknazarova and Roger Williams . ISTANBUL, 1 July 2013 - The Second General Committee on Economic Affairs, Science, Technology and Environment Monday elected its new committee leadership, promoting Roza Aknazarova (Kyrgyzstan) to the position of chair. She had previously served as vice-chair of the committee and acted as chair during the current Annual Session. Aknazarova has been an increasinly active voice in the Assembly