Our man in Vladivostok can’t be expected to live on a paltry pension

THE General Committee of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe.

Tue, 08 Jun, 2010 - 01:00

Fergus Finlay is a former political activist and adviser to three governments, the former head of the children's charity Barnardos, a writer and a broadcaster.

What a really, really important body this is. It has a crucial focus, this committee – its brief extends to economic affairs, science, technology and the environment. And the work of this vital committee lies at the very heart of the OSCE’s Parliamentary Assembly.

The OSCE’s Parliamentary Assembly really, really matters. Why, only recently it was endorsed by none other than the foreign minister of Greece, of all places. At one of their vital, essential meetings in Helsinki, she said “Greece believes in the OSCE, in the work of all its institutions, including the significant role of its Parliamentary Assembly and all its members.”