PM: A new page opens for OSCE

   Greek Prime Minister and Foreign Minister and OSCE Chairman George Papandreou, speaking at a press conference held at the end of the Organisation's two-day Ministerial Council in Athens on Wednesday, referred to a new page in the Organisation's history.

    "We have committed ourselves in a joint document on how to face common challenges," he said regarding the document agreed and which is focused on the continuation of the Corfu Process.

    "We agreed to join our forces. Greece set difficult and bold targets, without this meaning that the efforts of the Organisation's previous presidency are being disregarded," he added.

    Papandreou further said that "we are aware that many obstacles are in store for us because the OSCE is an Organisation which includes countries from Vancouver to Vladivostok. Greece, being an honourable mediator, succeeded in having a political proclamation after seven years. This became a reality."

    The prime minister went on to say that "we made a bet that the Organisation's member-states can think and speak politically," stressing that the Greek Presidency is delivering an Organisation that can lead developments in the sector of security, on issues concerning the protection of human rights, the citizen's personal dignity and a state of law.

    Papandreou noted that the task of Kazakhstan (which is assuming the Presidency for the next year) is difficult, but stressed that "we proved today that if we want we can. The procedure can revive political dialogue and the tangible result was consensus."

    He explained that the OSCE was the natural forum for such a political discussion and added that it was agreed that with Greece's support (which is part of the OSCE Troika) Kazakhstan will convene a summit, something that has not been held since 1999.