MADRID, 6 November 2007 - The 15th OSCE Ministerial Council will take place in Madrid on 29 and 30 November.

The event will be held at the invitation of the 2007 Chairman-in-Office, Spanish Foreign Minister Miguel Angel Moratinos.

The annual Ministerial Council will provide the foreign ministers of the 56 OSCE participating States the opportunity to review and assess the Organization's activities during the past year and offer national viewpoints on issues of security.

Journalists are invited to cover the event, which will be held in the Municipal Congress Palace in Madrid. There will be a fully-equipped Press Centre.

The deadline for journalists to apply for accreditation is 16 November.

The media accreditation form can be found at: www.osce.org/conferences/mc_2007.html?page=27316

Security will be strict, and advance accreditation for journalists is mandatory. It will require the completed form to be submitted with a digital photograph of the applicant by e-mail. Full details of accreditation procedures and information on accommodation, visa formalities and press facilities are available on the OSCE Ministerial Council website.

Please note that journalists accredited to the OSCE in Vienna or in any other OSCE locations still need special accreditation for the Ministerial Council. On-the-spot accreditation at the Madrid Press Centre may encounter delays and last-minute admission is not guaranteed.

Journalists should consult the nearest Spanish Embassy to check if they need an entry visa prior to their arrival in the country.

For more information visit the conference website 15th OSCE Ministerial Council, Madrid, 29 and 30 November 2007