OSCE Chairmanship countries discuss Georgia, pledge enhanced co-ordination ahead of December Ministerial Council

NEW YORK, 23 September 2008 - Foreign Ministers from the five countries holding the 2007-2011 OSCE Chairmanships met today at the invitation of this year's OSCE Chairman-in-Office, Finnish Foreign Minister Alexander Stubb, to discuss Georgia and ways to strengthen OSCE action.

The 'Quintet' of Spain, Finland, Greece, Kazakhstan and Lithuania convened at the Finnish Mission to the United Nations, on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly. Joining Minister Stubb were Ministers Miguel Angel Moratinos of Spain, Dora Bakoyannis of Greece, Marat Tazhin of Kazakhstan and Petras Vaitiekunas of Lithuania. OSCE Secretary General Marc Perrin de Brichambaut participated in the meeting.

The five countries discussed OSCE action in Georgia. They recognized the important role the OSCE played in reaching a ceasefire and in sending additional military monitoring officers to Georgia. They agreed the OSCE should continue to play an active role in the implementation of the ceasefire agreement and in seeking a lasting settlement to the conflicts in Abkhazia and South Ossetia, coordinating efforts with the United Nations and the European Union.

The Quintet countries also agreed to co-operate closely ahead of the Helsinki Ministerial Council in December. They urged other participating States in the 56-nation OSCE to work with them to further strengthen the Organization's capacity to act by setting common priorities.

The Quintet Ministers welcomed the positive outcome of the meeting and agreed to meet for a third time, on the sidelines of the 4 and 5 December OSCE Ministerial Council in Helsinki.