Spanish Foreign Minister Moratinos to Testify Before Helsinki Commission

WASHINGTON- 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, "Spain's Leadership of the OSCE,"on Monday, October 29 at 4:00 p.m. in room 1539 of the Longworth House Office Building. Spain's Minister of Foreign Affairs, Miguel Angel Moratinos, will testify before the Helsinki Commission in his capacity as Chairman-in-Office of the 56-nation Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE).

The hearing will focus on the simmering tensions with Russia in the lead up to critical parliamentary and presidential elections; a possible expanded role for the OSCE in Kosovo; prospects for OSCE involvement in Afghanistan; and engagement with the countries of Central Asia, including Kazakhstan's aspiration to chair the organization in the future.