Formatting necessary for an accurate reading of this text may be shown by tags (e.g., <DELETED> or <BOLD>) or may be missing from this TXT display. For complete and accurate display of this text, see the PDF.
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E426]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
ONGOING PARLIAMENTARY DIPLOMACY IN EUROPE
______
HON. RICHARD HUDSON
of north carolina
in the house of representatives
Tuesday, May 5, 2020
Mr. HUDSON. Madam Speaker, I wish to provide an update to my
colleagues on the continuing activities of the Parliamentary Assembly
of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe--the OSCE
PA--during these challenging times.
Not surprisingly, the pandemic challenges the OSCE PA to find new
ways to conduct its work. International relations require engagement on
both a bilateral level and on multilateral levels as well. It is likely
that all gatherings of the OSCE PA this year will be online, through
video conferences.
For example, last week the OSCE PA held a webinar on economic
security and the COVID-19 pandemic. I participated in the event and
spoke specifically on energy security needs, pointing to the
continuation of Russia's predatory natural gas supply practices which
seek to exert geopolitical influence. Europe needs a diversified supply
for its energy sources. Too much reliance on Russia for energy can lead
to market distortions and encourage corrupt practices, while
alternative sources increase security and benefit the average consumer.
Last week a video session was held of those parliamentarians who
comprise the leadership of the OSCE PA, which includes Senator Roger
Wicker of Mississippi and myself. Guest speakers included the Prime
Minister of Albania, Edi Rama, as well as the EU Commissioner for
Crisis Management, Janez Lenarcic of Slovenia. As Chairman of the First
Committee, I made clear that the committee will not waver from its
crucial role in defending Helsinki Principles where they are most
threatened. In this regard, I noted the public statement I made last
week, jointly with my fellow committee officers from the parliaments of
Romania and Lithuania, on the third anniversary of the tragic death of
Joseph Stone, an American working on the OSCE Monitoring Mission in
Ukraine.
Senator Ben Cardin of Maryland spoke at this leadership session as
the Assembly's Special Representative on anti-Semitism, racism and
intolerance. He noted that disadvantaged immigrant and minority
communities are made even more vulnerable by the pandemic, and that
parliamentarians have an important role in responding to this problem
during states of emergency. Our colleague from New Jersey, Mr. Chris
Smith, also spoke in his capacity as the Special Representative of the
OSCE PA on Human Trafficking Issues. He stressed how current
circumstances make those vulnerable to trafficking and exploitation,
including children, even more vulnerable. Coronavirus and its butterfly
effect have also rendered non-government organizations less effective
in their mission to help trafficking victims by operating shelters,
care and counseling.
To conclude Madam Speaker, I want to stress that, while we may need
to focus our efforts on fighting this pandemic at home, we need to work
with our partners abroad to eliminate a virus that knows no borders and
from which we ultimately can never fully isolate ourselves. Working
with our partners and allies across the globe is the interest of our
constituents here at home. I also want to stress that the pandemic has
not resolved earlier challenges but in many cases made them worse. We
need the capacity to address a wide range of ongoing issues, and the
OSCE PA is a valued venue for doing that on a multilateral level.
Madam Speaker, please join me today in recognizing the importance of
these continued discussions with our European allies and friends.
____________________
