Slovenia to take over Chairmanship of OSCE on January 1

VIENNA, 30 December 2004 - Slovenia will officially take over the Chairmanship of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) from Bulgaria on 1 January 2005.

The OSCE's Chairman-in-Office in 2005 will be Slovenian Foreign Minister Dimitrij Rupel, who will formally present the priorities of the new Chairmanship to the OSCE's 55 participating States at the Permanent Council in Vienna on 13 January.*

"The OSCE has always responded well to challenge and adversity," Minister Rupel said at the OSCE Ministerial Council in Sofia earlier this month. "Its ability to adapt has, over the years, become one of its greatest virtues and advantages."

"The responsibility to make it stronger and more visible in the global arena rests upon us. Slovenia is resolute that the OSCE should have a strong role in sowing the seeds of security and co-operation throughout its area and beyond."

* An invitation to attend this meeting will be sent to media in January 2005.