frsrdg · GW04OSSE1 · 2009-05-28 00:00:00 — Urges governments to condemn cyber attacks on a moral basis, as analogous to trafficking in human beings or to intellectual property piracy, and to create rules of conduct in cyber space; Maintains that the results of a cyber attack against vital state infrastructure do not differ in nature from those of a conventional aggressive act; Urges participating States and all other members of the international community to consider joining on Cybercrime and unconditionally follow its provisions; Urges participating States to consider joining also on the Prevention of Terrorism which offers additional instruments for preventing cyber attacks by terrorist groups and use of the Internet for terrorist purposes; Draws attention to the need to revise existing legal acts concerning cyber security and cyber crime and to find supplementary means, including harmonisation of the relevant legislation of States, and to make international co-operation in the field of cyber security and cyber crime more efficient; Urges all parties involved to search, in good faith, for negotiated solutions in the field of cyber security and cyber crime in order to achieve a comprehensive and lasting settlement which shall be based on the norms and principles of international law; Calls upon all parties to make full use of available mechanisms and formats for dialogue in a constructive spirit; Supports all efforts to enhance information exchange on relevant experiences and best practices, involving also relevant actors from the private sector and civil society, and to establish public-private partnerships in this regard; Encourages participating States to develop, adopt and implement national action plans on cyber security and cyber crime; Recommends that the could function as a regional mechanism supporting, co-ordinating and reviewing the development and implementation of national activities in this field, on and furthering previous activities related to various aspects of cyber security and cyber crime; Urges participating States to adopt anticipatory measures in order to prevent security incidents, to increase the security awareness of information and communication technology users; Stresses the need to analyse the sufficiency of existing measures and to supplement them according to the experience gained; Welcomes the proposal to hold a conference or a round-table for parliamentarians, taking into account and on previously held events related to various aspects of cyber security and cyber crime, to gain, through the help of experts, detailed information on all relevant aspects of the issue; Asks the representatives of participating States to forward this resolution to the governments and parliaments of their countries. RESOLUTION ON THE SECURITY ENVIRONMENT IN Noting the growing instability within the conflict zones in against the backdrop of the decision of the Government of to strengthen official ties with secessionist regimes in the Abkhazia and South Ossetia regions, Concerned by the unilateral decision of the Government of to move additional military personnel into the Abkhazia region of under the aegis of the Commonwealth of Independent States Peacekeeping Force, of which is the only troop-contributing country, Acknowledging that the Russian Federations issuance of passports to residents of the Abkhazia and South Ossetia regions of , and the Government of the Russian Federations assertion of the right to defend these people by military force, constitute a challenge to the sovereignty and territorial integrity of , Believing that the situation described above could exacerbate an already volatile situation in these regions and might lead, however unintentionally, to renewed armed conflict in those regions, Concerned that renewed armed conflict in those regions would lead to a deterioration of the broader European security environment, Noting that the Government of has offered extensive autonomy to Abkhazia and South Ossetia within the framework of a sovereign Georgian state, The Parliamentary Assembly: Urges the Government of , in its contacts with the de facto authorities of the secessionist regions of , to refrain from maintaining ties with those regions in any that would constitute a challenge to the sovereignty of ; Urges to abide by standards and generally accepted international norms with respect to the threat or use of force to resolve conflicts in relations with other participating States. Reaffirming the OSCEs comprehensive approach to security which includes the political-military, economic-environmental and human dimensions, and which has been documented in, inter alia, the 1975 Final Act, the 1996 Declaration on a Common and Model for Europe for the Twenty-First Century, the 1999 Summit Charter for , and the 2003 Strategy to Address Threats to Security and Stability in the Twenty-First Century and the importance of such an approach to the challenges facing , Reiterating in particular the concerns expressed by the participating States of the and the Parliamentary Assembly in their respective decisions and statements of principle about terrorism and drug trafficking as legitimate threats to a comprehensive security, including in the 1999 Charter for , the 2001 Decision on Combating Terrorism, the 2001 Plan of Action for Combating Terrorism, the 2002 Charter on Preventing and Combating Terrorism, the 2003 Strategy to Address Threats to Security and Stability in the Twenty-First Century, as well as at the 2007 in , in addition to the 2006 Declaration and the 2005 , DC Declaration, Recalling the 2007 report of the Special Representative of the President of the on Anti-Terrorism Issues which suggests measures to prevent and combat terrorism, including strengthening the OSCEs role, Also recalling the 1999 Charter for , which confirms the as an inclusive and comprehensive organization for consultation, decision-making and co-operation in its region, Stressing the OSCEs close relationship with the United Nations, which has led to co-operation on a wide range of common concerns including terrorism and trafficking and was documented in the 2006 with the United Nations, Taking note of the OSCEs commitment to intensify co-operation with Partners for Co-operation as pledged in the 2003 Strategy to Address Threats to Security and Stability in the Twenty-First Century, as well as to explore the scope for a wider sharing of norms, principles and commitments, Stressing the contribution that involvement as a Partner for Co-operation since 2003 makes to the security of the region, Recalling as well the PA 2005 , DC Declaration which refers to enhancing the partnership between and the in an effort to combat drug trafficking among other issues of concern, as well as the PA 2006 Declaration which resolves to promote participation in the , Recalling the fundamental step taken by in fulfilling its commitment to democracy with the holding of presidential elections in 2004 and legislative elections in 2005, Recalling the contribution made by an election support team in assisting in its preparation for the 2004 presidential and 2005 parliamentary elections, Supporting the goals of the Compact, agreed at the Conference on in 2006, Noting the progress to date made by the Government of in meeting its commitments under the 2006 Compact which encompass elements of security, governance and economic and social development, Aware of the deadlines of the Compact of 2011 and the Millennium Development Goals of 2020, Hailing the work of the international community, including the numerous non-governmental organizations, in supporting the Government of in its development and reconstruction, Condemning in the strongest terms all attacks, including suicide attacks and abductions, targeting civilians, Afghan and international forces; and the use of civilians as human shields by the Taliban and other extremists, Concerned that such attacks undermine Afghan and international reconstruction and development efforts and present difficult challenges for the people of in their daily lives, Concerned that opium poppy cultivation reached an all-time high in 2007 and that opium production increased by over one-third with the majority of it being converted into heroin or morphine inside , and concerned about the negative consequences of drug-trafficking on the social, economic and political development of , Concerned that pledges made by international donors are not always fully delivered, Concerned by the negative impact of cross-border activities involving neighbours including and on domestic stability and socio-economic progress, Welcoming the renewed commitment made by the international community in adopting resolution of 20 2008, which instructs the UN Assistance Mission in to lead international civilian efforts to, inter alia, promote coherent support to the Government of and adherence to the Afghan Compact, strengthen co-operation with the Assistance Force, facilitate the delivery of humanitarian assistance, provide increased political outreach through an expanded presence countrywide, and support efforts to improve governance and the rule of law, combat corruption, promote human rights, and assist in the electoral process, and which particularly reaffirms that sustainable progress on security, governance and development, as well as the cross-cutting issue of counter-narcotics is mutually reinforcing, Also welcoming NATOs Summit Declaration, which states specifically that and wider international security is closely tied to future as a peaceful, democratic State, respectful of human rights and free from the threat of terrorism, Welcoming the 10 2008 appointment of Ambassador of as Special of the UN Secretary-General and Head of the United Nations Assistance Mission in and noting his previous extensive experience with the , resolution (2007) extending the mandate of the Assistance Force (ISAF) which comprises members and non-members of NATO who are also participating States of the , Paying tribute to the sacrifices made by the Afghan people, ISAF contributing countries and the numerous non-governmental organizations, foreign and Afghan, in their efforts to restore and rebuild , Noting that future lies in one of the OSCEs principles, peaceful settlement of conflicts, and Taking note that Afghan presidential elections are scheduled in in 2009 and parliamentary elections in 2010, The Parliamentary Assembly: Undertakes to continue its support for in its efforts to meet the commitments of the Compact, the Development Strategy and the Millennium Development Goals in order to promote comprehensive security in the region; Vigorously supports the Afghan Governments fight against terrorism and drug trafficking and encourages continued co-operation with the participating States sharing borders with ; Welcomes the increasingly effective role of the parliament of in policymaking and oversight and urges that all international efforts be guided by the principle of Afghan leadership and ownership of reconstruction and reform efforts; Calls on neighbours, including the participating States, as well as and , to co-operate with the Government of to help bring security and stability to the country; Welcomes contributions to the dialogue, most recently by attending and participating in the in on ; Welcomes the decision on Engagement with (MC.DEC/4/07/Corr.1) adopted by the in on in response to the request by for the to provide assistance in the fields of border security, training, and combating drug trafficking; Welcomes and supports the Government of pursuit of dialogue and political reconciliation with insurgents who renounce violence and agree to recognize the authority of the government and the constitution of and openness to a politically-negotiated solution to the conflict; Calls on the governments of participating States to meet their full commitment with respect to international contributions, specifically the military mission and donor pledges in ; Encourages the individual participating States to pursue additional and supplementary bilateral and multilateral efforts to support Afghan programmes and stability; Remains concerned that corruption and mismanagement continue to hinder reconstruction efforts and the fight against drug trafficking and consequently calls for greater emphasis from the Afghan Government and the international community on developing the Afghan judicial system and promoting good governance at all levels; Remains concerned that women still face significant discrimination in and therefore urges the Government of , the United Nations Assistance Mission in , and the to redouble efforts to promote the role of women and equal opportunities for women in Afghan society; Is concerned about rising food prices and the resulting potential for malnutrition and unrest, and urges the United Nations Assistance Mission in to support greater development of the legitimate Afghan agricultural sector and food production capability in order to ease food shortages and lessen dependence on imported flour; Urges greater international effort to reduce significantly the high maternal mortality rate in by improving the essential care provided by skilled birth attendants, nurses, midwives or doctors during pregnancy and childbirth, including emergency services; by ensuring care for mothers and newborns; by reducing the distance and time a woman must to get skilled emergency care; and by measures to improve education and empowerment of women regarding maternal health; Encourages the national parliaments of the : a. to impress upon their governments the need to strengthen their contributions, military and humanitarian, to security and stability where needed, b. to hold their governments and the international community to account regarding donor pledges, c. to sustain the political will of their governments in reconstruction and development, and in political negotiations that may be undertaken and led by the Government of ; Offers its unconditional support to the United Nations Assistance Mission for and the Assistance Force; Calls for strong co-operation and co-ordination between the and the United Nations Assistance Mission in as the moves forward with concrete projects implementing the Ministerial Decision on Engagement with ; Calls on the to explore, together with the United Nations Assistance Mission in , possibilities for the to assist with the preparation for presidential and parliamentary elections expected in 2009 and 2010, including having the and the Parliamentary Assembly provide election support to and, as appropriate, organize election monitoring missions for the 2009 presidential elections and 2010 parliamentary elections; Recommends that the study, in the it deems appropriate, the terms and conditions for an intensification of co-operation with representation to the and the PA; Recommends that the study, in the it deems appropriate, the current challenges that the situation poses for security in the area in order to support the countrys reconstruction, to identify the additional resources needed by ISAF and in what areas of support is needed, so that the military mission will be strengthened in its ability to accomplish its mandate, and thus promote greater security for the people of and the peoples of all the participating States. RESOLUTION ON A FREE TRADE AREA Reiterating the fundamental importance of the economic and environmental aspects of the concept of security, Recognizing that without economic growth there can be no peace or stability, Recalling the importance that the Parliamentary Assembly accords to the development of international trade, as underlined by the Assemblys fifth economic conference on the theme of Strengthening Stability and Co-operation through International Trade, which was held in , in 2007, Maintaining that creating a free trade area will, inter alia, contribute significantly to the efforts to achieve peace, Recalling that Union itself was made possible by the of free-trade areas, first Coal and Steel Community in 1951 and then Economic Community in 1957, Recalling the Final Act of 1975, in which participating States expressed their intention to encourage with the non-participating States the development of mutually beneficial co-operation in the various fields of economic activity and to contribute to a diversified development of the economies of the non-participating countries, Recalling the Final Act, in which participating States recognized the importance of bilateral and multilateral intergovernmental and other agreements for the long-term development of trade and undertook to reduce or progressively eliminate all kinds of obstacles to the development of trade, Celebrating the decision made at the Summit in in 1994 to create a with for Cooperation, Expressing support for the Declaration of 1995 regarding the of a free trade area between the members of Union and all states by 2010, Saluting the American Middle East Free Trade Area Initiative (MEFTA) launched in 2003, Concerned by the slow pace of economic development in the Middle East, especially in the agriculture sector and the knowledge-based economy, where two-thirds of the population is under the age of 35, Considering the obstacles to economic growth posed by agricultural trade and tariff barriers, as discussed at the Parliamentary Assembly meeting in in 2004, 13.Considering the lack of direct foreign investment in Middle Eastern countries and the concentration of such investment in a small number of these countries, Noting that despite the efforts made in the Middle East to stimulate free trade, economic growth in countries is markedly stronger in the Israel-Europe-North axis than among countries in the region, and Encouraged by the increased literacy rate and the increased participation of women in the domestic economies of countries in the basin, The Parliamentary Assembly: Recommends the creation of a Economic Commission whose objective would be to quickly reduce trade barriers and facilitate the transition to a knowledgebased economy in countries in the region; Recommends the creation of a whose objective would be to create jobs in the agriculture sector for young people in the region; Invites participating countries and partner states for co-operation to intensify their efforts under the Process and to more fully benefit from the MEFTA Initiative in order to expedite the of a free-trade area among all countries. RESOLUTION ON EXPANDING TRADE BETWEEN NORTH AND EUROPE Reaffirming the importance of trade for economic growth, political stability and international peace, Recalling the fundamental importance of the economic and environmental dimension in the OSCEs comprehensive approach to security, Considering that expanded free trade between North American and European markets will benefit all participating States politically as well as economically, Recalling the commitments made by the participating States at the in regarding the liberalization of trade and the elimination of barriers limiting market access, Recalling the recommendations of the 2006 Best Practice Guide for a Positive Business and Investment Climate, published by the Office of the Co-ordinator of Economic and Environmental Activities, which advocate stronger international trade policies and conditions favourable to the circulation of international capital, Concurring with the conclusions of the Co-ordinator of Economic and Environmental Activities that free trade agreements and the reduction of tariffs are vital to a strong trade policy, Recalling the importance that the Parliamentary Assembly accords to the development of international trade as underlined by the on the theme of Strengthening Stability and Co-operation through International Trade held in in 2007, Recalling the deep historical and cultural ties between the peoples and states of North and Europe which shaped their common values, on which the is based, and which are reinforced by the strength of their economic links, Recognizing the considerable impact that the economies of North and Europe have on international trade, Considering the increasingly interdependent nature of the economic links between North and Europe, Noting the scope and depth of trade between North and Europe which benefits public accounts and the private sector in addition to generating opportunities for employment, Welcoming recently signed agreements that promote greater and freer trade between a limited number of markets in North and Europe, such as the January 2008 Free Trade Agreement between and , Acknowledging the appeal of the emerging markets in and South , whose growth will generate new levels of competition and economic efficiencies for trade between North and Europe, Concerned with the persistence of trade barriers in the economic relations between North and Europe which limit opportunities for greater economic growth and human development, Concerned with the state of the Round of negotiations at the which is affecting inter-regional trade negotiations such as the Canada-European Union Trade and Investment Enhancement Agreement suspended since 2006, The Parliamentary Assembly: Resolves that seminars and conferences to raise awareness of the opportunities and shared benefits of trade liberalization should be considered; Calls on the parliaments of the participating States to vigorously support and accelerate all multilateral, inter-institutional and bilateral initiatives that promote the liberalization of trade between North and Europe, including the harmonization of standards and the elimination of regulatory barriers; Calls on the parliaments of the participating States to sustain the political will of their governments as members of existing economic agreements, including the North American Free Trade Agreement, Union, and the Central European Free Trade Agreement, to develop transatlantic partnership agreements that expand and liberalise trade between and among them; Recommends that current and future initiatives that target expanded trade between the economies of North and Europe consider greater involvement where appropriate of regional and subregional governments and groupings; Recommends that current and future initiatives that target expanded trade between the economies of North and Europe reflect the principles and standards of the , particularly human rights, environmental protection, sustainable development and economic and social rights, including workers rights, as agreed to in the 1990 Document of the Conference on Economic Co-operation in Europe, the 1990 Document of the Meeting of the Conference on the Human Dimension of the CSCE and the 1990 Charter of for a New Europe. RESOLUTION ON WATER MANAGEMENT IN THE AREA Reiterating the fundamental importance of the environmental aspects of the concept of security, Recognizing the link between natural resource problems and disputes or conflicts within and between states, Noting the opportunities presented by resource management initiatives that address common environmental problems, including local ownership and sub-regional programmes and co-operation amongst governments, and which promote peacebuilding processes, Recalling the OSCEs role in encouraging sustainable environmental policies that promote peace and stability, specifically the 1975 Final Act, the 1990 Concluding Document of the CSCE Conference on Economic Co-operation in Europe (Document), the 1999 Charter for adopted at the Summit, the 2003 Strategy Document for the Economic and Environmental Dimension (Strategy), other relevant documents and decisions regarding environmental issues, and the outcome of all previous Economic and Environmental Fora, which have established a basis for the OSCEs work in the area of environment and security,