OSCE Economic Forum convenes in Prague

VIENNA, 22 March 1996 -The fourth meeting of the OSCE Economic Forum will convene on 27-29 March at the Czernin Palace in Prague. The meeting is expected to contribute economic security elements to the ongoing discussion within the OSCE on "A Common and Comprehensive Security Model for the 21st Century."

Representatives from United Nations Economic Commission for Europe, Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development, World Trade Organization, International Labour Organization, European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, European Investment Bank, International Bank for Reconstruction and Development, International Monetary Fund, and Council of Europe have been invited to attend and make contributions to the Economic Forum. Invitations have been extended to Algeria, Egypt, Israel, Morocco and Tunisia as OSCE Mediterranean Partners for Co-operation, as well as to Japan and Korea as OSCE Partners for Co-operation and to the Commonwealth of Independent States, Black Sea Economic Co-operation and Assembly of European Regions as regional groupings.

The Economic Forum was established in 1992 as part of the efforts to strengthen the focus of OSCE on the transition to, and development of, free-market economies as an essential contribution to the building of democracy. As directed by the 1994 OSCE Budapest Summit Meeting, the Economic Forum is the main venue for discussion on economic dimension issues. The Forum meets annually in Prague.

Press Arrangements:

A press briefing is scheduled on Wednesday, 27 March, at 3.15 p.m. with the Chairman of the Economic Forum, Secretary of State Franz Blankart, Director of the Swiss Federal Office for Foreign Economic Affairs.

Press representatives will be also permitted to attend the opening and closing meetings of the Economic Forum, at which time there will also be a short photo opportunity. The first plenary session is scheduled to begin on 27 March at 10:00 a.m.

For accreditation, please present your press credentials or NGO identification at the press/NGO liason desk at the entrance.

Address: Palace Czernin, Loretanske namesti 5, Prague 1

Tel. (+42 - 2) 2431 0971 or 2431 0969, Fax:(+42-2) 2431 0970