Pyotr Tolstoy: Elimination of the OSCE consensus principle will destroy its parliamentary platform

A coordination meeting of the heads of the parliamentary delegations of the CSTO Member States to the OSCE PA was held remotely on February 16.

Pyotr Tolstoy, deputy Chairman of the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation and head of the Parliamentary Delegation of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation to the OSCE PA, spoke out against attempts by Westerners to eliminate the consensus principle in the OSCE.

“Essentially, we now see the desire of the Westernists to destroy the platform for dialogue in the OSCE. What is now happening to Russia – the largest country in Europe – can easily be done to any of the CSTO Member States... There will also be attempts to amend the Assembly regulations: the British suggest replacing consensus by two thirds of votes. But this will mean that any room for cooperation, for promotion of any dialogue formats inside the OSCE will be curtailed,” said Pyotr Tolstoy.

The parliamentarian emphasized that in case of destruction of the consensus principle, no state or delegation will have any influence on the politicized decisions of Westernists.

“We, of course, are against this. We are aware of the fact that the world has changed quite significantly this year and will change even more as Russian troops move deeper into the former Ukraine. And after that there will be a new Helsinki, a new Yalta, and, accordingly, there will be a new OSCE. But as long as the old one exists, we will defend our positions as much as possible,” Mr Tolstoy concluded.

The meeting addressed issues relating to the coordination of foreign policy activities of the parliamentary delegations of the CSTO Member States to the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly, raised questions regarding the upcoming 22nd Winter Meeting of the OSCE PA and exchanged views on topical issues.

In conclusion, the participants agreed on the next meeting in Vienna, at the Hofburg Congress Centre on February 23–24, 2023.