Russian Deputy Foreign Minister discusses European security proposal with OSCE states

VIENNA, 18 February 2009 - Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Groushko urged today the OSCE participating States to "come to the negotiating table" to discuss the future of Euro-Atlantic security.

Speaking at a special session of the Forum for Security Co-operation and Permanent Council, Groushko discussed Russian President Dmitry Medvedev's proposal for a new European security architecture.

"We invite all states to come to the negotiating table and work on new rules. We see this as a 'Helsinki plus', where we would discuss new inter-states relations in a legally-binding manner. We need a new type of co-operation for meeting global security threats," Groushko said, emphasizing that the "indivisibility of security" was a principle that should be included in the treaty.

"We need to renew a very serious dialogue not only on concrete arms control measures, but also on an overall instrument of security in the new context."

Referring to the Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe (CFE), Groushko said that the Russian Federation supported a German proposal to hold discussions in summer. The Russian Federation suspended its CFE participation in December 2007.

Greek Ambassador Mara Marinaki expressed again the Greek Chairmanship's willingness to host a high-level OSCE meeting to discuss European security, if all participating States agree.