Hon. Alcee L. Hastings, Chairman
Hon. Benjamin L. Cardin, Co-Chairman
For Immediate Release

www.csce.gov
October 31, 2007

HELSINKI COMMISSION TO HOLD HEARING EXAMINING SECURITY IN THE 21ST CENTURY

(Washington, DC) Congressman Alcee L. Hastings (D-FL), Chairman of the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe (U.S. Helsinki Commission) and Co-Chairman Senator Benjamin L. Cardin (D-MD), will hold a hearing entitled, “Twenty-First Century Security in the OSCE Region,” on Monday, November 5 at 3:00 p.m. in room 2212 of the Rayburn House Office Building. The hearing will focus on Russia’s suspension of compliance with the Conventional Armed Forces in Europe Convention (CFE); the status of the Istanbul Commitments regarding Georgia and Moldova and their relationship to CFE; and the proposed U.S. deployment of ground-based missile defense installations in Poland and the Czech Republic. Other issues to be addressed are the effectiveness of Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) efforts to monitor weapons trade, enhance border security and combat terrorism.

The following witnesses will testify at the hearing:

Panel One

Mr. David Kramer, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs

Mr. Daniel Fata, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Europe and NATO

Panel Two

The Honorable Nicolae Chirtoaca, Ambassador of the Republic of Moldova

The Honorable Vasil Sikharulidze, Ambassador of Georgia

The Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe, also known as the Helsinki Commission, is a U.S. Government agency that monitors progress in the implementation of the provisions of the 1975 Helsinki Accords. The Commission consists of nine members from the United States Senate, nine from the House of Representatives, and one member each from the Departments of State, Defense and Commerce.

Media Contact: Lale Mamaux
202.225.1901

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