U.S. Helsinki Commission Co-Chairmen Hastings and Cardin to Lead Congressional Delegation to the Czech Republic, Slovakia, and Austria (February 15, 2008)

February 15, 2008

Delegation to Meet with Leading Government Officials and Attend the 7th Annual OSCE PA Winter Meeting.
 
(Washington, D.C.) Congressman Alcee L. Hastings (D-FL), Chairman of the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe (U.S. Helsinki Commission) and Co-Chairman Senator Benjamin L. Cardin (D-MD), will lead a Congressional delegation to the Czech Republic, Slovakia, and Austria from February 18-22, 2008.  The Members of Congress that will be travelling with the delegation are Representatives Louise Slaughter (D-NY), Hilda Solis (D-CA), and Michael McNulty (D-NY).
 
On Wednesday, February 20, the delegation will travel to Bratislava, where they plan to meet with Prime Minister Robert Fico, Foreign Minister Jan Kubis, U.S. Ambassador Vincent Obsitnik, independent analysts, and Romani activists. They will hold a press conference at 5:15 p.m. at Stara Vinarska 14/A (the Ambassador’s residence).  During the press conference, the delegation is expected to discuss U.S.-Slovak relations, the situation of the Romani minority, and regional issues of concern to the OSCE community.
 
The delegation will then travel to Vienna, where they will attend the 7th Annual Winter Meeting of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe’s (OSCE) Parliamentary Assembly.  The purpose of the meeting is to examine unfolding trends and events within the OSCE region and beyond with a particular focus on Kosovo, missile defense, and conventional forces in Europe.  The parliamentarians will also receive briefings by high-level OSCE officials on the diplomatic response to these events. The work conducted during this meeting is in preparation for the upcoming Annual Session, which will take place in Astana, Kazakhstan this summer.

The Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe, also known as the Helsinki Commission, is a U.S. Government agency that monitors progress in the implementation of the provisions of the 1975 Helsinki Accords. The Commission consists of nine members from the United States Senate, nine from the House of Representatives, and one member each from the Departments of State, Defense and Commerce