Wolfgang Grossruck becomes OSCE PA acting presidentMarch 15, 2013 - 15:11 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Wolfgang Grossruck, a Member of the Austrian Parliament, became the acting president of OSCE Parliamentary Assembly. Grossruck, as the Assembly’s most senior vice-president, fills a vacancy created by President Riccardo Migliori’s departure from the Italian Parliament. Grossruck will serve as acting president through July 3, 2013, the end of the Assembly’s Annual Session. First elected vice-president in 2008, Grossruck is one of the most experienced election observers in the OSCE region, having participated in 32 election observation missions, leading three of them as the appointed special co-ordinator. “We are all sorry to bid farewell to President Migliori, but I look forward to humbly continuing where he left off in support of a strong, vibrant parliamentary voice within the OSCE,” President Grossruck said. “I pledge to work closely with my colleagues and continue our Assembly’s momentum, supporting the OSCE’s important work on security and human rights throughout the Northern Hemisphere.” In a letter to the Standing Committee of heads of delegation from all 57 participating States, Secretary General Spencer Oliver announced the transition in accordance with Assembly Rule 3, Paragraph 1, which requires Members of the Assembly be Members of their National Parliaments, and Rule 5, Paragraph 8, which delineates the succession process when the president is unable to serve. “President Migliori strengthened the independent voice of parliamentarians and helped start cooperative work with other parliamentary assemblies across Europe, the Mediterranean and North Africa,” Oliver wrote. Members of the Assembly elected President Migliori in July 2012. The election of a new president will be held July 3 at the Assembly’s Annual Session in Istanbul. Top stories Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". The earthquake caused a temporary blackout, damaged many buildings and closed a number of rural roads. Partner news | Titus, Bilirakis lead legislation to sanction Azerbaijani war criminals Representatives Dina Titus (D-NV) and Gus Bilirakis (R-FL) have introduced the bipartisan legislation. Armenia: Defense Ministry warns against involving army in political processes The Ministry’s statement came after a video surfaced online, showing soldiers joining the protests in Tavush. Scholz hopes Armenia-Azerbaijan peace treaty will be signed this year German Chancellor Olaf Scholz hopes that a peace treaty between Armenia and Azerbaijan will be signed this year. Ucom equips four bus stops in Ijevan with free Wi-Fi Ucom now provides free Wi-Fi coverage in smart bus stops in four communities of Ijevan. |