Kyiv Post: Europe must focus on the East

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Europe must focus on the East

For Europe, what happens in the East, in Ukraine, Belarus, and in the Caucasus and Central Asia, is vitally important. That is one reason why the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) Parliamentary Assembly is holding its 16th Annual Session in Kyiv this week, from 5-9 July. I look forward to our discussions in the coming days on a whole rang of important issues, from energy security to trafficking in human beings and conflict settlement.

I would argue that after the successful enlargement of the European Union, OSCE’s work in conflict resolution and democracy building must focus on the transitioning democracies in the East. These countries are full and equal members of the OSCE and its Parliamentary Assembly. We need to hear their voices in our meetings and our discussions. We strongly prefer co-operation and dialogue over isolation and silence.