Presidential Update May 2020

INTERNATIONAL SECRETARIAT · SECRÉTARIAT INTERNATIONAL
Place du Petit Sablon 3
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T. +32 2 504 81 55
E. secgen@nato-pa.int
www.nato-pa.int
THE PRESIDENT
LE PRÉSIDENT
083 CIR 20 E 13 May 2020
TO SECRETARIES OF DELEGATION FOR DISTRIBUTION TO ALL MEMBERS
Message from NATO PA President Attila Mesterhazy
Dear colleagues,
Once again, I would like to update you on my activities since my last message to you on 15 April 2020.
As always, I hope this message finds you healthy and safe at a time when all our countries are grappling
with important decisions on the way forward in the COVID-19 crisis and how to deal with the shocks it
is producing across the globe.
Virtual Assembly meetings
As I mentioned in my last message, I see an important role for our Assembly in the coming months in
analysing the many dimensions of this global crisis and helping us draw the lessons from it.
Since then, the Assembly held a number of virtual meetings to exchange views on managing the
immediate crisis and its aftermath, national and NATO responses, medium- and long-term effects for
Allies, NATO, and partners, and other topics related to COVID-19. On the NATO PA website, you can
find all activities and news in a dedicated section; The Assembly's Response to COVID-19.
On 29 April, we held a videoconference of the Assembly’s Bureau and the Chairpersons of its five
Committees and the Mediterranean and Middle East Special Group. Members shared their views on the
COVID-19 crisis and its impacts. Moreover, we discussed the way forward on the Assembly’s response
to the coronavirus crisis and activities for the remainder of 2020, including on the Assembly’s
contribution to the NATO reflection process on strengthening NATO’s political dimension (see more
below).
On 7 May, we successfully held our first-ever webinar, which was a resounding success. James
Appathurai, NATO Deputy Assistant Secretary General for Political Affairs briefed and answered many
of you on NATO’s response to COVID-19 and the lessons the Alliance is learning from the crisis. For
those who missed it, you can find the video here. More webinars will be organized in the coming weeks
and months.
On 22 April, I informed you that the Spring Session in Ukraine will not take place in 2020. Next week, I
will meet with members of the Ukrainian delegation to the NATO PA via videoconference to
acknowledge that, even if we cannot meet in Kyiv in 2020, the NATO PA continues to follow
developments in Ukraine and support the country. I will be joined by UNIC Co-Chair Ojars Kalnins
(Latvia).
Presidential Statements
On 16 April, I issued a Joint Statement on the Role of Parliaments in a Time of Pandemic with the
Presidents of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) and the Parliamentary
Assembly of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE PA). In the statement,
we argue that the global crisis requires a global response. Indeed, international cooperation is key to
addressing this grave multifaceted crisis and this includes, emphatically, interparliamentary diplomacy,
cooperation, and coordination.
NATO''s Parlamentariske Forsamling 2019-20
NPA Alm.del - Bilag 34
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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
Following the tragic accident involving a Canadian helicopter engaged as part of NATO operations in
the Mediterranean Sea at the end of April, I wrote to the new Head of the Canadian delegation on all of
your behalf to express our sincere condolences, and pay our respect to the deceased soldiers for their
service to the Alliance.
NATO Reflection Process
I would like to update you on the Assembly’s involvement in the NATO Secretary General’s reflection
process on strengthening NATO’s political dimension.
Since January, Secretary General Popa and I have been in regular contact with NATO on this issue, at
various levels. NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg and the Group of Experts convened by him
remain committed to engage with the Assembly during the process.
Since my last message, I have sent introductory letters to the 10 members of the Group of Experts
convened by NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg. I have also had a phone conversation with
NATO Deputy Secretary General Mircea Geoana on the Assembly’s involvement.
The process for the Assembly’s involvement is coming together. I will be able to share more information
in my June message to you.
Next steps
On 29 May, we will convene a Standing Committee meeting via videoconference. The agenda,
documents, and practical details about the meeting will be sent to delegations in due course. I would
also like to encourage those members of the Standing Committee who have not yet done so to join our
dedicated chat group on Signal. Do not hesitate to contact our Secretary General for any questions.
I would like to refer to the letter by Secretary General Popa from 11 May, where she lays out what other
activities are in store over the coming weeks and months, including webinars, a COVID-19 survey, and
interviews with the heads of all member delegation. We will share further updates as soon as possible.
As always, I would like to encourage you to sign up to the Assembly’s newsletter to follow our latest
activities, which you can do on the bottom of the NATO PA web site.
Thank you for your active commitment to the NATO PA and thank you for your trust. Please do not
hesitate to reach out to me or our Secretary General.
Attila Mesterhazy