Channel Title: Helsinki Commission Channel Description: The Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe, also known as the U.S. Helsinki Commission, is an independent commission of the U.S. Federal Government. For over 45 years, the Commission has monitored compliance with the Helsinki Accords and advanced comprehensive security through promotion of human rights, democracy, and economic, environmental, and military cooperation in the 57-nation OSCE region. <video> Russia’s Weaponization of the Global Energy Market Description: October 16, 2024: Dr. Joseph Majkut, Director of Energy Security and Climate Change, Center for Strategic & International Studies (CSIS), spoke at a US Helsinki Commission about Russia's weaponization of its energy resources in the global energy market since the beginning of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. He discussed how the US and Europe can promote their own energy independence as a crucial means of defending their national security. Joseph Majkut is director of the Energy Security and Climate Change Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS). In this role, he leads the program's work understanding the geopolitics of energy and climate change and working to ensure a global energy transition that is responsive to the risks of climate change and the economic and strategic priorities of the United States and the world. Joseph is an expert in climate science, climate policy, and risk and uncertainty analysis for decisionmaking. He is frequently cited in trade and national media on the politics of climate change and has testified before Congress on climate change and science. Before CSIS, Majkut worked as the director of climate policy at the Niskanen Center, where he led that group's efforts to research and promote carbon pricing, low-carbon innovation, regulatory reform, and other market reforms to speed decarbonization. From 2014 to 2015, he worked in the U.S. Senate as a congressional science fellow, supported by the American Association for the Advancement of Science and the American Geosciences Institute. He holds a PhD from Princeton University in atmospheric and oceanic sciences, a master’s degree in applied mathematics from the Delft University of Technology, and a bachelor’s degree in mathematics from Harvey Mudd College. To watch the full briefing, please visit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tmnpU5GdpJo </video> <video> The US and European Partners Should Work to Deepen Relationships with Armenia Description: </video> <video> Dr. Joseph Majkut on the future of European energy independence Description: </video> <video> Dalibor Rohac on Russia's War on Ukraine: This is the closest we’ve been to global war since WW2 Description: October 23, 2024: At a Helsinki Commission briefing entitled, “Contesting Russia: Lessons from Central & Eastern Europe,” Dr. Dalibor Rohac discussed how the United States and others in the West are failing to heed the alarms sounded by Central and Eastern European countries about Russia’s aggressive intentions throughout the region. Dalibor Rohac is a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute (AEI), where he studies European political and economic trends, specifically Central and Eastern Europe, the European Union (EU) and the eurozone, US-EU relations, and the post-Communist transitions and backsliding of countries in the former Soviet bloc. He is concurrently a research associate at the Wilfried Martens Centre for European Studies in Brussels and a fellow at Anglo-American University in Prague. Before joining AEI, Dr. Rohac was affiliated with the Cato Institute’s Center for Global Liberty and Prosperity, the Max Beloff Centre at the University of Buckingham, the London-based Legatum Institute, and the Center for the New Europe in Brussels. </video> <video> We must learn the lessons from the most recent global war. Aggression must be nipped in the bud. Description: October 23, 2024: At a Helsinki Commission briefing entitled, “Contesting Russia: Lessons from Central & Eastern Europe,” Dr. Dalibor Rohac discussed how the United States and others in the West are failing to heed the alarms sounded by Central and Eastern European countries about Russia’s aggressive intentions throughout the region. Dalibor Rohac is a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute (AEI), where he studies European political and economic trends, specifically Central and Eastern Europe, the European Union (EU) and the eurozone, US-EU relations, and the post-Communist transitions and backsliding of countries in the former Soviet bloc. He is concurrently a research associate at the Wilfried Martens Centre for European Studies in Brussels and a fellow at Anglo-American University in Prague. Before joining AEI, Dr. Rohac was affiliated with the Cato Institute’s Center for Global Liberty and Prosperity, the Max Beloff Centre at the University of Buckingham, the London-based Legatum Institute, and the Center for the New Europe in Brussels. </video> <video> The United States has historically misunderstood Russia’s imperial ambitions Description: </video> <video> Dr. Donald Jensen: No matter what happens in Ukraine, Russia will still be Russia Description: </video> <video> How did Russia exacerbate the humanitarian crisis in Syria? Description: Representative Marc Veasey questioned witness Mouaz Moustafa, Executive Director of the Syrian Emergency Task Force, about Russia's role in exacerbating the humanitarian crisis in Syria throughout the reign of the Assad regime. Mouaz Moustafa was born and raised in Damascus, Syria before moving to the United States as a teenager. He earned a degree in political science from the University of Central Arkansas and went on to spend four and a half years working in Congress as a staffer for U.S. Congressman Vic Snyder and for U.S. Senator Blanche Lincoln. Mouaz left the Hill to work briefly with the U.S.-based branch of Egypt’s opposition party at the onset of their revolution. Mouaz then transitioned to working with leaders of the Libyan revolution as the Executive Director of the Libyan Council of North America and Political Director of the Libyan Emergency Task Force. In 2011, the wave of Arab Spring revolutions reached his native Syria and the conflict quickly turned violent. Mouaz sprang into action, helping a group of his fellow Syrian-Americans to launch the Syrian Emergency Task Force. The Syrian Emergency Task Force (SETF) aims to support the demands of the Syrian people for freedom and democracy while also addressing the colossal humanitarian crisis the war has created. SETF works with leaders in Congress, the White House, the State Department, NGOs, and the United Nations to advocate for the protection of civilians in Syria. SETF also operates several humanitarian projects inside Syria including a school for orphans in the Northern Idlib Provence and a bakery that provides bread to thousands affected by the war. SETF also helps to document the horrendous war crimes that have been committed against Syrian civilians to bring justice and accountability to those in power. </video> <video> Russia used intimidation tactics to stop the provision of humanitarian aid in Syria Description: </video> <video> Chairman Wilson: There is a strong & growing desire in Armenia to turn westward Description: </video> <video> Rep. Wilson: Armenia has made brave steps to assert its independence & distance itself from Putin Description: September 10, 2024: Congressman Joe Wilson, Chairman of the US Helsinki Commission, spoke at a hearing regarding Armenia's democracy and Western future, describing a strong and growing desire among Armenians to distance themselves from Russia, turn westward, fully embrace democratic values, and build a future of alignment with the free world. Full transcript: There is a strong and growing societal consensus in Armenia, a desire to turn westward, to fully embrace democratic values, and to build a future of alignment with the free world. This consensus is driven by the clear recognition that Armenian true potential can only be realized through greater integration with the West—through deepening ties with Europe, the United States, and regional allies who share a vision of stability and prosperity. Armenia has made brave steps to assert its independence and distance itself from the grip of the war criminal Putin’s influence. These decisions have not been easy, especially in a region where war criminal Putin’s influence is ever present. Moscow has repeatedly demonstrated that it prefers to see Armenia and its neighbors mired in conflict, a strategy designed to maintain its dominance. War criminal Putin’s actions, including its meddling in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and its efforts to exploit divisions in the region, are aimed at preventing Armenia and the South Caucasus from moving toward lasting peace and prosperity as Putin seeks to recreate the failed Soviet Empire, which oppresses Russians as it benefits oligarchs. The Armenian people want something different. They want peace. They want democracy. They want to build a future that is free from outside interference, a future that can thrive as a sovereign nation in a stable and secure region. This is where the United States has a crucial role to play. We must be there to support Armenia on its journey toward democracy, to help foster the economic and political conditions that will allow Armenia to stand tall as a full partner in the free world and not a puppet of Soviet dictatorships. Watch the full hearing here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XDhTDpqALa4&t=2s </video> <video> Russia uses its shadow fleet to export oil and fund its war on Ukraine Description: </video> <video> Dalibor Rohac’s Message to Americans about the Russian Threat: We are not alarmed enough Description: October 23, 2024: At a Helsinki Commission briefing entitled, “Contesting Russia: Lessons from Central & Eastern Europe,” Dr. Dalibor Rohac discussed how the United States and others in the West are failing to heed the alarms sounded by Central and Eastern European countries about Russia’s aggressive intentions throughout the region. Dalibor Rohac is a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute (AEI), where he studies European political and economic trends, specifically Central and Eastern Europe, the European Union (EU) and the eurozone, US-EU relations, and the post-Communist transitions and backsliding of countries in the former Soviet bloc. He is concurrently a research associate at the Wilfried Martens Centre for European Studies in Brussels and a fellow at Anglo-American University in Prague. Before joining AEI, Dr. Rohac was affiliated with the Cato Institute’s Center for Global Liberty and Prosperity, the Max Beloff Centre at the University of Buckingham, the London-based Legatum Institute, and the Center for the New Europe in Brussels. </video> <video> Supporting Armenia’s Democracy and Western Future — U.S. Helsinki Commission Congressional Hearing Description: September 10, 2024: In July 2024, bipartisan members of the Helsinki Commission leadership from the House and Senate and other senior members of Congress visited Armenia to observe for themselves the fruits of Armenia’s democratic and increasingly pro-West orientation. Members observed Armenia’s precarious strategic situation, but also its profound resilience, democratic example in the region, and sociopolitical consensus in favor of a European future. This hearing charted out ways that the United States and Congress can support Armenia in continuing its democratic path, securing its sovereignty, finalizing peace and normalizing ties with Azerbaijan and Turkey, and dissuading and deterring Russian malign efforts. The following witnesses testified: Dr. Dan Baer, Senior Vice President for Policy Research at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace and former U.S. Ambassador to the OSCE Ms. Olesya Vartanyan, South Caucasus Security Expert Mr. Tigran Grigoryan, President and founder of the Regional Center for Democracy and Security in Yerevan </video> <video> European Imports of American LNG since Russia’s Full-Scale Invasion of Ukraine Description: </video>

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The Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe, also known as the U.S. Helsinki Commission, is an independent commission of the U.S. Federal Government. For over 45 years, the Commission has monitored compliance with the Helsinki Accords and advanced comprehensive security through promotion of human rights, democracy, and economic, environmental, and military cooperation in the 57-nation OSCE region.

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