Cypriot MP Irene Charalambidou elected OSCE vice president

Akel MP Irene Charalambidou was elected as one of the vice presidents of the organization for security and co-operation in Europe (OSCE).

Charalambidou is the first Cypriot MP to hold this post. She was also the head of the Cypriot delegation and special representative of the committee for the fight against corruption.

According to an announcement, the 29th annual session of the parliamentary assembly of OSCE concluded on Tuesday in Vienna with a secret online ballot to elect the new officials of the assembly.

Former PA Vice President Margareta Cederfelt from Sweden was elected president, according to OSCE PA website.

Alongside Charalambidou are vice-presidents Pia Kauma from Finland, Daniela de Ridder from Germany, Askar Shakirov from Kazakhstan and Reinhold Lopatka from Austria. The Vice-Presidents are elected for three-year terms.

The OSCE addresses a wide range of security-related concerns, human rights, national minorities, democratisation, policing strategies, as well as economic and environmental activities among others.

A total of 57 states participate with equal status, and decisions are taken by consensus on a politically, but not legally binding basis.