On 8 July 2018 Undersecretary of State for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Guglielmo Picchi took part in the 27th Annual Meeting of the OSCE PA, held in Berlin at the Bundestag, on behalf of Minister Enzo Moavero Milanesi, Chairpersion-in-Office of the OSCE.
Hon. Picchi addressed the opening session of the Meeting, alongside President of the Bundestag, Wolfgang Schauble, the President of the OSCE PA, George Tsereteli, and Germany’s Minister of Finance, Olaf Scholz.
Undersecretary Picchi recalled the priorities of the Italian OSCE Chairmanship, including: the crisis in and around Ukraine, protracted conflicts, cooperation with Mediterranean partners – particularly with regards to migration, the fight against Transnational Threats, including terrorism, cyber threats and countering illicit trafficking.
Hon. Picchi underlined the key role played by parliamentary diplomacy in fostering an inclusive dialogue, which contributes to strengthen ownership among participating State. Debate at the OSCE PA, concluded Undersecretary Picchi, will be an added value to the Italian Chairmanship, also for the preparation of the 6-7 December Milan OSCE Ministerial Council.
On the margins of the meeting, Undersecretary Picchi met with OSCE PA President Tsereteli, with the President of Montenegro’s Parliament, Ivan Brajovic and with US Senator Roger Wicker, Chairman of the U.S. Helsinki Commission and Vice-President of the OSCE PA.
