Corfu informal meeting of OSCE foreign ministers begins

CORFU, Greece, 27 June 2009 - The OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, Greek Foreign Minister Dora Bakoyannis, urged OSCE foreign ministers to engage in a frank and open dialogue on the present and future of European security at the start of an informal meeting on the Greek island of Corfu today.

Bakoyannis said the presence of all 56 OSCE participating States as well as representatives of international organizations underlined the need to launch a "Corfu Process" to reinvigorate dialogue on European security.

"An open, frank - even self-critical - and inclusive dialogue over the state of affairs in European security is long overdue. It is high time to make an honest assessment of what we have achieved together, where we have failed to reach our goals and how we can join forces to address and overcome common challenges."

"Let us face the reality with an open mind - the vision of a united continent, built on universal principles and indivisible security, still remains a target," she said. "There are different strategic perceptions among the major stakeholders of European security, a factor that has led to a decline of confidence and trust. We need to use the toolbox that we have collectively developed over the years and mobilize all reserves of political will to redress the situation."

Bakoyannis emphasized that the OSCE was an "irreplaceable framework for restoring confidence and trust and enhancing co-operation."

"Our task today and tomorrow will be to identify areas of primary concern and explore ways to structure our dialogue within the OSCE," she said.

The ministerial meeting begins Saturday night with an informal working dinner of the foreign ministers. The meeting continues on Sunday with a plenary session with the delegations, which will be opened by Greek Prime Minister Kostas Karamanlis and the Chairperson-in-Office. It will conclude with a news conference by Bakoyannis.

The welcoming remarks by Prime Minister Karamanlis and Minister Bakoyannis will be streamed live starting at 10.00 on Sunday, 28 June, at //www.osce.org/conferences/inf_mc_2009.html?page=38426.