Greece takes over OSCE Chairmanship, will focus on strengthening Organization's role at heart of European security

ATHENS, 1 January 2009 - Greece took over the Chairmanship of the OSCE today and reconfirmed its commitment to work as an honest broker to strengthen the Organization's role as a forum for dialogue and platform for action at the heart of Europe's security architecture.

"The OSCE plays a crucial role in regional security, working for stability, prosperity and democracy throughout its 56 participating States. It is an irreplaceable forum for dialogue in our region and does valuable practical work on the ground. We will try to strengthen the OSCE's role at the heart of European security," said Greek Foreign Minister Dora Bakoyannis, the new Chairperson-in-Office.

"The OSCE is also a barometer of the region's political climate. As Greece assumes the Chairmanship we will work hard -- and will engage actively as an honest broker -- to try to ensure that the regrettable but unmistakable chill among the conflicting sides does not take a long-term toll on the prospects for their peaceful co-existence and the return to normality; furthermore, it should not affect the continued effectiveness of the OSCE presence. In particular, we intend to proceed with a swift and co-ordinated course of action to try and find a compromise arrangement that would allow the Organization to continue its activities throughout Georgia, in order to assist all efforts for the peaceful resolution of the crisis."

Minister Bakoyannis took over from Finnish Foreign Minister Alexander Stubb, whose country chaired the OSCE in 2008.

"I should like to thank Minister Stubb for the excellent conduct of the OSCE Chairmanship, including Finland's mediating role during the August crisis in Georgia and an impressively organized Ministerial Council in Helsinki," said Bakoyannis. "I should also like to welcome Kazakhstan and Foreign Minister Marat Tazhin to the Chairmanship Troika."

She said Greece intended to make full use of the Troika and ensure that Lithuania, which will chair the OSCE in 2011, is also part of longer-term discussions.

Greece's Chairmanship faces several challenges in the region, not least the unresolved conflicts that will be a focus of Greek efforts, Bakoyannis said. Greece will also seek to build on OSCE ministerial discussions in Helsinki on the future of European security. All of this will take place against the sobering backdrop of a deepening international financial crisis.

The new Chairperson-in-Office will outline the Greek Chairmanship's priorities in a speech on 15 January in Vienna to the Permanent Council, a key OSCE decision-making body.