OSCE Secretary General Schmid concludes visit to the United Kingdom

LONDON, 5 July 2022 - The OSCE Secretary General, Helga Maria Schmid, has concluded her visit to the United Kingdom where she met with high-level British and OSCE officials and attended the 29th Annual Session of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly (OSCE PA).

Addressing the Opening Plenary of the OSCE PA Annual Session in Birmingham amidst Russia's ongoing war against Ukraine, Schmid focused on the shared resolve of OSCE executive structures and parliamentarians to "uphold the OSCE's principles, continue project support to Ukraine, and ensure the OSCE keeps providing practical, beneficial support assistance to participating States each and every day".

While attending the OSCE PA Annual Session, the Secretary General met with OSCE PA President, Margareta Cederfelt, its Secretary General, Roberto Montella, and several parliamentary delegations from OSCE participating States, including Ukraine.

In London, Schmid met with Lord Tariq Ahmad, Minister of State at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, as well as other senior stakeholders. Discussions focused on the continuation of OSCE project activities in Ukraine, the implications in Central Asia of instability emanating from Afghanistan, as well as efforts to promote gender equality and combat gender-based violence across the OSCE region.