UK Chargé d'Affaires, Deputy Ambassador James Ford welcomes the new President of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly.
Mr President, on behalf of the United Kingdom, I extend our warmest congratulations on your election as President of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly.
The UK deeply values the role of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly in constructively holding the OSCE to account, promoting inter-Parliamentary dialogue and more broadly strengthening democratic institutions. The PA's committee reports, visits and election monitoring missions complement those undertaken by the OSCE, and we believe that close collaboration strengthens our organisation as a whole.
We are particularly grateful for your strong and prominent support for Ukraine, as it continues to endure Russia's ongoing aggression. Your engagement is crucial in helping to keep Ukraine high on the international agenda and continuing to mobilise parliamentary voices across the OSCE region in its support. Your principled stance reinforces the OSCE's core commitments to sovereignty, territorial integrity, and fundamental freedoms. The UK strongly agrees with the points you have just set out in your speech, including that 'any negotiation must include Ukraine at the table' and that 'Russia must end its aggression, withdraw its forces, and respect full Ukrainian sovereignty in accordance with the UN Charter and OSCE principles and commitments'.
The UK Minister with responsibility for Europe and the OSCE, Mr Stephen Doughty, previously worked for the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly, as he noted when he spoke at the Helsinki+50 Conference this summer, and underlined the importance of our Organisation for peace and security in Europe. He looks forward to collaborating with you during your term of office.
In closing, let me underline that the UK stands ready to work closely with you and the Assembly to advance our shared priorities across the OSCE agenda. We wish you every success in your tenure and assure you of the UK's full support in your important work ahead.
