VIENNA, 23 December 2009 - The Greek OSCE Chairmanship and the Kazakh Chairmanship of the Advisory Committee on Management and Finance welcomed today the decision by the 56 OSCE participating States to approve the Unified Budget for 2010, amounting to 150,765,000 euros.

"By adopting the budget within the normal timeframe for the first time since 2006, the OSCE participating States demonstrated their strong commitment to the Organization and can focus on promoting dialogue and co-operation," said Ambassador Mara Marinaki of Greece, Chairperson of the Permanent Council.

"This decision is a real success for the OSCE. Its timely adoption will enable the Organization to continue its work in supporting stability, prosperity and democracy," said the Kazakh Ambassador to the OSCE, Kairat Abdrakhmanov.

The decision was reached at a special meeting of the OSCE Permanent Council. The Permanent Council is an OSCE decision-making body, chaired by the country holding the OSCE's annually rotating Chairmanship.

Kazakhstan has chaired the Advisory Committee on Management and Finance since October 2009 and will take over the OSCE Chairmanship from Greece on 1 January 2010.