DUBLIN, 1 February 2012 – OSCE Parliamentary Assembly President Petros Efthymiou expressed support today for the Irish Chairmanship agenda, including internet freedom and conflict resolution, during a meeting with Ireland’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade Eamon Gilmore. The Assembly’s Special Representative on South Caucasus Joao Soares and Secretary General Spencer Oliver joined President Efthymiou in the meeting with Gilmore to discuss common goals to further the OSCE’s comprehensive approach to security. Frank Cogan of the OSCE Task Force also participated in the meeting. “The historic peacemaking work conducted in Northern Ireland should serve as inspiration for the OSCE’s conflict resolution efforts and remind us that there is always hope to thaw the frozen conflicts in the OSCE region,” Efthymiou said. The Irish Chairmanship has announced its plans to hold in April a conference in Dublin about conflict resolution, bringing international experts together to discuss the Northern Ireland peace process as a case study. The delegaton had a substantive meeting with Irish political director Dan O’Donoghue regarding the country’s priorities as chair of the Organization. Members of the Parliamentary Assembly have passed several resolutions in the last two years aimed at promoting dialogue to resolve conflicts, increasing the free flow of information online, and combating hate crimes, all chairmanship priorities. While in Dublin, the Parliamentary Assembly delegation raised issues related to election observation and improving transparency, accountability and efficiency at the OSCE in Vienna. Members of the delegation had a working lunch with the six-member Irish Delegation to the OSCE PA, chaired by Eoghan Murphy T.D. They also met with Sean Barrett T.D., and members of the Parliamentary Committee on Foreign Affairs, chaired by Pat Breen, T.D. Neil Simon, Director of Communications OSCE PA

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