[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 84 (Tuesday, May 5, 2020)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E426]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               ONGOING PARLIAMENTARY DIPLOMACY IN EUROPE

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                          HON. RICHARD HUDSON

                           of north carolina

                    in the house of representatives

                          Tuesday, May 5, 2020

  Mr. HUDSON. Madam Speaker, I wish to provide an update to my 
colleagues on the continuing activities of the Parliamentary Assembly 
of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe--the OSCE 
PA--during these challenging times.
  Not surprisingly, the pandemic challenges the OSCE PA to find new 
ways to conduct its work. International relations require engagement on 
both a bilateral level and on multilateral levels as well. It is likely 
that all gatherings of the OSCE PA this year will be online, through 
video conferences.
  For example, last week the OSCE PA held a webinar on economic 
security and the COVID-19 pandemic. I participated in the event and 
spoke specifically on energy security needs, pointing to the 
continuation of Russia's predatory natural gas supply practices which 
seek to exert geopolitical influence. Europe needs a diversified supply 
for its energy sources. Too much reliance on Russia for energy can lead 
to market distortions and encourage corrupt practices, while 
alternative sources increase security and benefit the average consumer.
  Last week a video session was held of those parliamentarians who 
comprise the leadership of the OSCE PA, which includes Senator Roger 
Wicker of Mississippi and myself. Guest speakers included the Prime 
Minister of Albania, Edi Rama, as well as the EU Commissioner for 
Crisis Management, Janez Lenarcic of Slovenia. As Chairman of the First 
Committee, I made clear that the committee will not waver from its 
crucial role in defending Helsinki Principles where they are most 
threatened. In this regard, I noted the public statement I made last 
week, jointly with my fellow committee officers from the parliaments of 
Romania and Lithuania, on the third anniversary of the tragic death of 
Joseph Stone, an American working on the OSCE Monitoring Mission in 
Ukraine.
  Senator Ben Cardin of Maryland spoke at this leadership session as 
the Assembly's Special Representative on anti-Semitism, racism and 
intolerance. He noted that disadvantaged immigrant and minority 
communities are made even more vulnerable by the pandemic, and that 
parliamentarians have an important role in responding to this problem 
during states of emergency. Our colleague from New Jersey, Mr. Chris 
Smith, also spoke in his capacity as the Special Representative of the 
OSCE PA on Human Trafficking Issues. He stressed how current 
circumstances make those vulnerable to trafficking and exploitation, 
including children, even more vulnerable. Coronavirus and its butterfly 
effect have also rendered non-government organizations less effective 
in their mission to help trafficking victims by operating shelters, 
care and counseling.
  To conclude Madam Speaker, I want to stress that, while we may need 
to focus our efforts on fighting this pandemic at home, we need to work 
with our partners abroad to eliminate a virus that knows no borders and 
from which we ultimately can never fully isolate ourselves. Working 
with our partners and allies across the globe is the interest of our 
constituents here at home. I also want to stress that the pandemic has 
not resolved earlier challenges but in many cases made them worse. We 
need the capacity to address a wide range of ongoing issues, and the 
OSCE PA is a valued venue for doing that on a multilateral level.
  Madam Speaker, please join me today in recognizing the importance of 
these continued discussions with our European allies and friends.

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