Greek OSCE Chairmanship calls for swift end to Ukraine-Russia gas dispute

ATHENS, 6 January 2009 - The OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, Greek Foreign Minister Dora Bakoyannis, expressed concern today about increasingly disrupted gas supplies to parts of Europe and urged Ukraine and Russia to settle their energy dispute as soon as possible.

"Russia as a supplier and Ukraine as a transit country each plays its own critical role in providing Europe with energy. They are also both participating States in the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe, along with 54 other countries, several of which are directly affected by this dispute," said Bakoyannis.

"I am concerned about the increasing disruption to supplies, not least because of the extreme cold conditions all over Europe. All avenues for dialogue should be explored in order to find a mutually acceptable and lasting settlement as soon as possible."

The Chairperson-in-Office said she was liaising closely with the European Union and that the OSCE was exploring additional ways it could help to defuse tensions.