NATO PA Presidential update

INTERNATIONAL SECRETARIAT · SECRÉTARIAT INTERNATIONAL
Place du Petit Sablon 3
B-1000 Brussels
T. +32 2 504 81 55
E. secgen@nato-pa.int
www.nato-pa.int
THE PRESIDENT
LE PRÉSIDENT
068 CIR 20 E 6 March 2020
TO SECRETARIES OF DELEGATION FOR DISTRIBUTION TO ALL MEMBERS
Message from NATO PA President Attila Mesterhazy
Dear colleagues,
In December, our Bureau entrusted me with the responsibility to serve as your President, taking over
the mandate which Madeleine Moon was unable to complete. Since then, I have used our Assembly’s
great toolbox of parliamentary diplomacy to support our priorities to the best of my abilities.
In January, in light of escalating tensions in the Middle East, I issued a statement condemning Iran’s
attacks against coalition forces in Iraq and calling for restraint. Following the Iraqi Parliament’s resolution
urging the government to expel foreign troops, I wrote to the Deputy Speaker – who has led Iraqi
delegations at NATO PA sessions – to stress the important contribution of the NATO Mission in Iraq to
the country’s security.
Also in January, I participated in the meeting of our Ukraine-NATO Interparliamentary Council to thank
our Ukrainian friends for hosting the upcoming Spring Session of our Assembly and express our
continued support for their territorial integrity and Euro-Atlantic integration. Furthermore, I wrote to the
Speaker of the Ukrainian Parliament to express our condolences following the downing by Iran of flight
UA752.
In early February, I travelled to Washington, D.C. to highlight the centrality of the transatlantic bond for
our Assembly and for NATO. I addressed the US Helsinki Commission – a joint commission of the US
House of Representatives, US Senate, and US administration – and met with members of the US
delegation to the NATO PA and officials of the Department of State and Department of Defence. I also
spoke at two events organised by Washington’s think tanks where I stressed the unique nature of NATO
as an alliance of democracies committed to shared values.
On 11 February, I was the only foreign dignitary to address the historic session of the Assembly of the
Republic of North Macedonia during which the North Atlantic Treaty was ratified.
In my meeting with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg on the margins of our Joint Committee
meetings in Brussels on 17-19 February, I stressed the important contribution that our Assembly can
make to the reflection process which he is spearheading and which aims to strengthen NATO’s political
dimension. I am confident that our Assembly will be engaged in this process.
I also met with EU Commissioner for Enlargement Oliver Varhelyi to highlight the importance of
anchoring the Western Balkans firmly into our European and Euro-Atlantic community of nations.
The participation of the Speaker of the US House of Representatives, Nancy Pelosi, in our February
meetings for the second year in a row was an important signal of Congress’ support for NATO and for
our Assembly.
Lastly, on 25 February, I issued a statement urging our Georgian friends to work towards a resumption
of dialogue between majority and opposition and ensure that the 2020 parliamentary elections can be
held in accordance with international standards.
I will continue to pursue these priorities in the coming months. I will also focus on ensuring that:
- We maintain our strong consensus on Russia.
NATO''s Parlamentariske Forsamling 2019-20
NPA Alm.del - Bilag 21
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INTERNATIONAL SECRETARIAT · SECRÉTARIAT INTERNATIONAL
Place du Petit Sablon 3
B-1000 Brussels
T. +32 2 504 81 55
E. secgen@nato-pa.int
www.nato-pa.int
THE PRESIDENT
LE PRÉSIDENT
- We understand better the opportunities and challenges related to China’s rise.
- We continue to raise awareness of hybrid threats.
- We come to a better understanding of the link between a strong European defence and the
fundamental security guarantee provided by NATO.
- We use every opportunity at our disposal to explain to our publics and especially our youth why
NATO remains indispensable.
- We continue to promote the role of women in security and defence, including in our Assembly.
I look forward to engaging with you on these and other priorities in the coming months and will send
regular updates on my activities. In turn, please do not hesitate to reach out to me.
I would also like to encourage you to sign up to the Assembly’s newsletter to follow our latest activities,
which you can do on the NATO PA web site. You will also find attached the latest list of the reports our
Committees are currently working on.
Thank you for your active commitment to the NATO PA and thank you for your trust!
Attila Mesterhazy