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Congressman Cohen Commends Sweden and its Foreign Minister on Chairing the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe

June 11, 2021

MEMPHIS – Today, Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09), a longtime member of the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe, also known as the Helsinki Commission, commended Sweden and its Foreign Minister Ann Linde as they take the Chairpersonship of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE).

In his opening statement at the meeting of OSCE members, Congressman Cohen said in part:

"The Swedes have been great allies of America for many, many years. It is a wonderful country filled with beautiful people, and I look forward to your leadership of the OSCE. The OSCE's goals are important ideals for America. Sometimes we don't heed them, but we try. We are trying to participate in all the ways that we can, defending human rights and opposing human trafficking. We're concerned about areas where Russia has been involved with Moldova and Georgia and, of course, Ukraine and Belarus, where Mr. Lukasheko has put his powerful personality and spirit over the people of Belarus. …The peoples' spirit needs to be able to rise up, and the Belarusian people need to have the freedom that they've shown in the streets they desire. Indeed, we visited there – I've been there several times – and the people are beautiful. They want freedom, and they don't have it.

"I look forward to the coming year working with you and demonstrating that we defend and work with our European allies being a bulwark against oppression from Russia in so many different ways."

See the entire statement here.

In his questions to Foreign Minister and OSCE Chairperson Linde, Congressman Cohen praised the leadership of former Swedish Prime Minister Olof Palme, who was assassinated in 1986, and mentioned the memorable 1959 defeat of his hero, American boxing champion Floyd Patterson, in a World Championship match with Swedish boxer Ingemar Johansson. Congressman Cohen also asked Linde about her involvement with Belarus and President Lukashenko.

See that exchange here.