"I would like to thank Special Representative Kovalev for bringing up a timely and important topic for a discussion in the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly. I believe it is important that we, as parliamentarians representing the whole OSCE area, have a comprehensive discussion about possible measures that could be adopted as a part of our joint efforts to combat terrorism," Kanerva, OSCE Parliamentary Assembly President Emeritus, told Sputnik.
He added that in order to successfully prevent and counter terrorism, the OSCE countries need "co-operation and joint actions" in accordance with OSCE principles and commitments.
"Over the last years, we have seen several important steps being taken as regards the international counterterrorism co-operation. Joint efforts focusing on both prevention and countering terrorism are equally important. However, we need to step up our international co-operation as terrorism is a common threat to all of us," Kanerva said.
Earlier in June, Russian State Duma Speaker Vyacheslav Volodin said that the Russian delegation to the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly planned to propose two resolutions on the upcoming summer session of the Assembly. One of the resolutions, according to the lawmaker, will be on strengthening the OSCE's role in countering terrorism.
The 26th Annual Session of PA OSCE will be held in Belarus' capital of Minsk on July 5-9, with around 300 parliamentarians from North America, Europe and Asia expected to take part.
The OSCE Secretary General is appointed for a term of three years by the OSCE Ministerial Council, the central decision-making and governing body of the OSCE, and then may be re-elected for a second and final term of three years.
Incumbent OSCE Secretary General is Lamberto Zannier, who first took the office in 2001 and started the second term in 2014. The new Secretary General will be elected during the upcoming Ministerial Council in the Austrian city of Mauerbach, scheduled for July 11.
