OSCE Ministerial Council agenda will examine counter-terrorism measures

VIENNA, 20 November 2001 (OSCE) - An action plan on counter-terrorism measures will feature on the agenda of the OSCE's Ninth Ministerial Council, which is scheduled to take place on 3 and 4 December in the Palace of Parliament, Bucharest. The Council has been invited to convene in Bucharest by the Romanian Foreign Minster, Mircea Geoana, OSCE Chairman-in-Office during 2001.

At the meeting, the Foreign Ministers of the Organization's 55 participating States will review and assess the activities of the OSCE. They may decide to set new political goals for the future and to elaborate concrete measures that can augment the capacities of the Organization in different ways. Significant achievements, including the negotiation of confidence- and security-building measures called for by the Dayton Peace Accords, and due to take effect on 1 January 2002, will also be rounded off.

Media representatives are invited to cover the event in the Romanian capital. Advance accreditation is advisable. The deadline for receipt of applications is Monday, 26 November. Full details of how to obtain advance accreditation are found on the special Ministerial Council website (see below). On-the-spot facilities will also be available for immediate accreditation, beginning at noon on 1 December in the Palace itself (by entrance S2), but delays of up to half an hour are possible. For other periods of opening, please see the website.

Please note that journalists already accredited to the OSCE in Vienna or in other locations must still obtain special accreditation for the Ministerial Council.

Print media representatives unable to travel to Bucharest may nevertheless wish to cover the event using the news features available on the special OSCE Ministerial Council website, which has gone online today. The site can be visited at this address:

www.osce.org/events/mc/romania2001

This content-driven website features background information as well as the latest news connected with the Chairmanship and the Council, which will be updated several times a day. On 3 and 4 December, the site will also include a live webcast of the open plenary sessions and the press events surrounding the Council. Photographs of these events, as well as speeches by participants will be posted regularly, as soon as they are made available.