President of OSCE Parliamentary Assembly calls for extension of mandate of OSCE Office in Yerevan

The President of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly, Austrian parliamentarian Christine Muttonen, called for the immediate agreement on the extension of mandates of OSCE field operations, some of which are currently being held up by representatives of OSCE countries, press service of the OSCE PA informed.

“Field missions have long been the crown jewel of the OSCE, both helping OSCE countries to live up to their commitments through practical project work and representing a vital element of the Organization’s outreach capacity.

The excellent work being done by our professionals in the field is now effectively being held hostage by diplomats in Vienna, some of whom are vetoing this most important work of the Organization,” Muttonen said.

The mandates of the OSCE’s field operations in Armenia, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan all expired on 31 December 2016 without agreement on their extension. Earlier, commenting on the rumors over the closure of the OSCE Office in Yerevan, Tigran Balayan, spokesman of Ministry of Foreign Affairs, told “Armenpress” Armenia supports the activity of the OSCE Office in Yerevan and always assists it, especially within the framework of respective decisions adopted in the OSCE.