MINSK, 11 March 2010 - Participants in an OSCE meeting to be held next week in Minsk will discuss the challenges facing land transport security and initiatives to promote international railway transport as part of the OSCE Economic and Environmental Forum process.

The 15-16 March meeting is to prepare for the 18th OSCE Economic and Environmental Forum that will be held from 24 to 26 May in Prague.

Speakers at the opening session include OSCE Secretary General Marc Perrin de Brichambaut, Goran Svilanovic, the Co-ordinator of OSCE Economic and Environmental Activities, Kazakh Ambassador and OSCE Permanent Council Chairperson Kairat Abdrakhmanov, Belarusian Deputy Foreign Minister Valery Voronetsky and Belarusian Deputy Transport and Communications Minister Vladimir Dervenkov.

Journalists are invited to the opening session, set to be held from 9:30 to 10:30 on 15 March at Hotel Minsk, Nezavisimosti Avenue 11 (sixth floor). Journalists are also invited to a news conference set to be held at 10:30 in the adjacent lobby and to a panel debate to be held from 11:00 to 13:00. The concluding debate and closing statements, to be held from 16:30 to 17:30 on 16 March, also is open to the media. Journalists interested in interviewing participants are encouraged to contact Ruslan Urazalin or Jandos Asanov.