ATHENS, 27 November 2009 - The OSCE's work to help its participating States safely stockpile and destroy small arms and light weapons will be highlighted during a side event on Tuesday at the OSCE Ministerial Council in Athens.

A major project to help Ukraine safely dispose of 16,000 tonnes of a highly toxic Soviet-era rocket fuel component called mélange, which started earlier this month, will be presented at the event, as will a project that helped Cyprus destroy 324 shoulder-launched guided missile systems - Man Portable Air Defence Systems - in June. The conclusion of a major project this year that helped Tajikistan destroy 34 tonnes of ammunition and 25,000 small arms also will be discussed.

Speakers include Greek Alternate Defence Minister Panos Beglitis, Ukrainian Acting Defence Minsiter Valerii Ivashchenko and OSCE Secretary General Marc Perrin de Brichambaut.

Journalists accredited to the Ministerial Council are invited to cover the event on 1 December at 11:30. Journalists interested in covering the event should report to the information desk in the Ministerial Council press centre by 11 a.m. on 1 December.

For information about accreditation and media arrangements at the OSCE Ministerial Council, please see http://www.osce.org/item/41542.html