The Birmingham Declaration condemned Russia’s war of aggression in the strongest terms and demanded an immediate ceasefire and full withdrawal of Russian troops. The Declaration comprises resolutions on security questions in the OSCE area. It received broad support when it was adopted at the close of the Annual Session.

The Storting’s OSCE PA delegation at the Annual Session in Birmingham consisted of Siv Mossleth (Centre Party, head of delegation), Bård Hoksrud (Progress Party, deputy head of delegation), Kari Henriksen (Labour Party), Sverre Myrli (Labour Party), Mahmoud Farahmand (Conservative Party) and Aleksander Stokkebø (Conservative Party).

The delegation’s contribution to the negotiations on the declaration was made through the OSCE PA’s three general committees: the Committee on Political Affairs and Security; the Committee on Economic Affairs, Science, Technology and Environment; and the Committee on Democracy, Human Rights and Humanitarian Questions. Among the items raised by the Norwegian MPs were the consequences of the war in Ukraine, the situation in the South Caucasus and equality.

Side event on political oppression

The Norwegian delegation joined forces with the delegations from the USA and Lithuania to host a side event on political oppression in Russia and Belarus. The meeting was very well attended. In her opening speech, Siv Mossleth, head of the Norwegian delegation, stressed the point that the authorities’ suppression of the independent media and violation of human rights has worsened since the invasion of Ukraine. She added that freedom of speech and the release of political prisoners are fundamentally important.

In their introductions, Evgenia Kara-Murza from Russia and Natalia Kaliada from Belarus described the grave situation for political prisoners in their two nations. Bill Browder from the USA and Gunnar Ekeløve-Slydal of the Norwegian Helsinki Committee were joined by other participants to debate possible solutions.

“I’m very pleased that we were able to arrange this side event and provide political prisoners in the OSCE region with a voice,” said Ms Mossleth.

Special Representative on the South Caucasus

Kari Henriksen (Labour Party) is the OSCE PA’s Special Representative on the South Caucasus. She delivered a report to the Assembly on the work she has done since being appointed in August 2021.

“One of my recommendations is to strengthen regional parliamentary dialogue. There is a need for a forum where the nations of the South Caucasus can discuss regional challenges of common interest,” said Ms Henriksen.

Also see

The Norwegian Delegation to the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly